BENGALURU: Recently relegated from Hero I-League, Aizawl FC, gave a reality check to ‘Champions of India’ Bengaluru FC by defeating them 3-2 away from home at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday (May 03, 2016) and hereby ending Bengaluru FC’s Hero Federation Cup mission. Aizawl FC with an aggregate score of 5-3 progressed into the semi-finals of the Championship.
Nothing noticeable happened in the first quarter of the game other than exchanging few shots on both ends with one noticeable in the 15th minute - a good long ranger by Aizawl striker Joel Sunday, however Amrinder Singh was in the right position to collect the ball. Aizawl FC forced their first corner in the 25th minute of the game. Bengaluru showed confidence in fielding young mid-fielder Nishu Kumar again for today’s match, who proved a handful for Aizawl FC to deal with.
Much to the surprise of the spectators, the visitors took lead in the 26th minute of the game. Animportant away goal courtesy of a Joel Sunday strike. The Nigerian, also the scorer of the 90th minute winning goal in Aizawl FC’s match at home, took a pass from his striking partner Alfred Jayran, dribbled past Nishu Kumar and blasted the ball into the back of the net.
Bengaluru got an opportunity to equalize within a minute, but Kim Song’s shot failed to test the opposition custodian, the Korean was only few yards away from the keeper.
The anguish of a missed opportunity barely lasted for a minute. CK Vineeth equalized for the host from a Keegan Perreira pass in middle of the box, a nice turn, and then he placed the ball to the back of the net.
It was the delightful combination of Sunday and Alfred then, Sunday’s scorcher gave the lead to the Mizoram team again in the 38th minute to make the scoreline read 1-2.
Luck seemed to stay away for the Blues even after changing ends. Central defender Curtis Osano quite innocuously brought down Sunday at the top of the penalty box, referee Ramaswamy Srikrishna awarded a free kick from a dangerous position. An extremely neat chip from the captain David Lalrinmuana left Amrinder Singh stranded at the goal as Aizawl FC doubled their lead to make it 1-3.
That was that for Bengaluru FC as coming back from a two goal deficit looked impossible. They reduced the margin in the 74th minute from a penalty. Udanta Singh was brought down inside the box and Chhetri making no mistake, placed the ball comfortably past the Aizawl custodian to make it 2-3.
Aizawl custodian, Soram Poirei Angamba, doing a tremendous job under the bar keep his opponents at bay and at the end of full-time the scoreline read 2-3 in Aizawl FC’s favour.
