I-League 2015/16: Debutant Joel Sunday stars as Aizawl defeat Mumbai

I-League 2015/16: Debutant Joel Sunday stars as Aizawl defeat Mumbai

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Image Courtesy: © Facebook - I League

Goals from debutant striker Joel Sunday and midfielder Lalmuankima helped Aizawl defeat Mumbai FC 2-0 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl on Saturday. With the win, the home side moved to 7th in the table, while Mumbai suffered back-to-back defeats to be at 5th place after eight games.

Starting Line-ups:

Aizawl FC: Zothanmawia (GK), Lalruatthara, Lalramchullova, Lalchhawnkima, Ricky Lallawmawma, H. Lalbiakthanga, R. Malsawmtluanga, Zoramthara, H. Lalmuankima, Alfred Kemah Jaryan, Albert Zohmingmawia.

Mumbai FC: Pawan Kumar (GK), Clyde Fernandes, Asif Kottayil, Allan Dias, Eric Brown, Pratik Prabhakar Chowdhary, Steven Dias, Anwar Ali, Jayesh Rane (C), Sushil Kumar Singh, Ryuki Kozawa

With just five points from seven games, the home side made five changes for the contest against Mumbai with Zothanmawia, Lalchhawnkima, R. Malsawmtluanga, H. Lalbiakthanga and Zoramthara coming into the starting line-up to replace Soram Poirei, Emma Chigozie, David Lalrinmuana, Yuta Kinowaki and F. Lalrinpuia (Valpuia) respectively.

Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil also made four changes to his team that lost 2-3 to Sporting Goa last week with Jayesh Rane, Asif Kottayil, Steven Dias and Clyde Fernandes returning to the XI.

With both teams focussing on defence, the first half proved to be a dull affair with very few chances for the teams. Aizawl looked more comfortable on the ball with the home fans rallying behind them in search for the goal.

(Also Read: An open letter to Nita Ambani from an Indian football fan)

The away side received a blow in the 35th minute after defender Allan Dias was stretchered off the ground with an injury. Srikanth Ramu replaced him on the pitch, but the deadlock continued as both sides sat back awaiting a mistake from the other. The biggest chance of the half came just before the break with Aizawl winger Malsawmtluanga chipping the ball towards the goal only to see the ball bouncing off the crossbar.

Coach Jahar Das introduced new signing Joel Sunday in place of B Zoramthara in the hope of breaking the deadlock in the second half, and he did just that in the 66th minute. A cross from Lalmuankima found Sunday in the box, and he made no mistake and found the back of the net with a strike past Pawan Kumar in the goal. The provided turned goal scorer within minutes as Lalmuankima smashed a ball past Pawan Kumar to double Aizawl’s lead with Albert providing the assist.

The home side defended admirably in the final twenty minutes against the strong Mumbai attack and gifted Jahar Das his first win as Aizawl coach to move to 7th in the table.

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