Aizawl FC score twice to hold Mumbai FC

by Siddharth Yadav March 2, 2016

An energetic Aizawl FC side held Mumbai FC 2-2 in their anticipating HERO I-league clash at Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai. The Yellow Submarines came into this game being winless in their last four I-league games and things once again didn’t went right for Khalid Jamil’s men as they failed to defend their solitary goal not once but twice.

Mumbai FC had a dream start when an early penalty just inside two minutes put them in front, courtesy of Ryuki Kozawa’s brilliantly taken spot-kick. This was a start Khalid Jamil was hoping for considering Mumbai FC did not lose a single game this season after taking the lead first.

Mumbai FC played extremely on swift counter attack at least for the first fifteen minutes. Aizawl’s backline soaked the pressure early in the first half before creating havoc in Mumbai’s final-third.

Aizawl’s Captain David Lalrinmuana almost saw his venomous left footed volley nestle into the back of the net on the 10^th minute but it went way over the target. Their next attempt on target although turned out to be the equalizer.

On 18^th minute Winger Albert Zohmingmawia burst into the box from right flank, squeezing past couple of Mumbai’s defenders Zohmingmawia hit a powerful right-footed shot which went all the way into the back of the net levelling the score 1-1.

Mumbai FC had a huge opportunity to restore the parity on the 35^th minute when Eric Brown found Darren Caldeira unmarked in the box with a delicate lob ball, Caldeira’s powerless header did not trouble Aizawl’s custodian Zothanmawia who comfortably collected the loose header.

Malsawmtluanga and Albert Zohingmawia turned out to be Aizawl’s best players in the first forty-five minutes after highlighting some enthralling display of football.

On the brink of the first half, Mumbai’s Ryuki Kozawa could have scored his second of the night when his shot somehow got a wicked deflection of Aizawl’s goalkeeper Zothanmawia and went out for a corner. Few minutes later Aizawl too had their go on the goal when Yuta Kinowaki and Alfred Jaryan came close to find the back of the net.

The second half was as intense as the first after both the outfit went all in for a late winner. Just three minutes into the second half, Mumbai’s Eric Brown almost scored from the half-line, which actually looked like it beat Aizawl’s goalkeeper Zothanmawia.

Aizawl’s goal scorer Albert Zohingmawia was outstanding for throughout the match. The winger tested Sanjban Ghosh from range with a powerful low drive, which was brilliantly kept out by Sanjiban.

Eric Brown who was also Mumbai’s Captain for tonight’s game finally had his say on 57^th minute through a free-kick which rattled the inside of the post and went in to give Mumbai FC a 2-1 lead. This was Eric’s first goal of the season for Mumbai FC.

Surprisingly Aizawl fought back hard just six minutes after Eric scored and equalized for the second time in the match. A loose shot inside the box got a huge deflection from Mumbai’s Syed Nabi and went all the way into the back of the net, even Sanjiban Ghosh couldn’t kept it out.

In the dying minutes, Eric Brown’s bullet free kick from almost forty yards struck the right hand post making all the spectators standing to their feet. A minute later Eric once again came close when Zothanmawia saved his powerful left footed shot, which also denied Mumbai FC their first win in four games.

Aizawl’s Captain David Lalrinmuana received the Man of the Match award for his impressive performance.

After this stalemate, Mumbai FC has moved one place up to fifth position leapfrogging Shillong Lajong, who has played one game less. Whereas Aizawl FC are lying on the seventh position with nine points so far.