Match Day Report:Mizoram qualify for the semi-finals after beating Punjab

by Jobel Varghese March 24, 2018

The highlanders Mizoram faced the northern state of Punjab in what appeared to be the eleventh match of the 72nd edition of Santosh Trophy  in the Group B category .

Punjab kick started  the game and were  attacking from right to left while the Mizoram team  were attacking  from left to right in the first half. Punjab got an early chance in the very first minute of the match  as they swung in a cross from the right flank that was almost finished by  a towering head but the Mizo goalkeeper handled  the ball safely. Punjab continued with their assault earning a second chance in the second minute of the match but the attack failed due to an improper shot that didnot connect very well. Punjab received an early free-kick  in the third minute from  outside the box as they mounted a series of attacks on Mizoram .

Captain Sarbjit Singh  was behind the  free-kick but the same went  wide of the target and Mizoram started the game again. Mizoram had their first positive move in the fifth minute with a cross into the box from the right but Punjab defender headed  it away safely. Mizoram opened their mark in the sixth minute ,with a progressive build up of short  passes and a final crack by Mizoram hit the bar and the rebound  was successfully  put into the back of the net by forward  Lal Remruata.

Mizoram in red continued with their pursuit for goals as they doubled their lead in the eighth minute with forward  Lal Remruata  scoring a brace for his side. Punjab were awakened after conceding  two goals and  made  runs down the right flank eager to open their mark. Mizoram continued  with their successful build  as Punjabi defenders averted all possible attacks. Mizoram had another opportunity in the twelfth minute  but midfielder Lalbiakhlua hit  the side of the net. Mizoram launched an array of attacks as Punjab defenders were looking for ways to stop the Mizo forwards. Punjab had a fine crack at the goal in the fifteenth minute, but the connection was poor for forward Jagdeep Singh and the ball missed the target. Punjab were looking for some sort of momentum as they were trying to build up the game.

Punjab changed their strategy and  played  long balls were proving ineffective against the stubborn Mizo defence. The north side received another  free-kick in the twentieth minute  and the  powerful shot went wide off the target. Punjab made their first substitution in the twentieth minute with jersey no.9 Parmeet Jhutty being replaced by defender Sunny .Punjab defenders had a tough time stopping all possible attacks from both the flanks. Mizoram continued  with their short passing  build up and frustrated the Punjab players, starving them for possession. Midfielder  Lalbiakhlua had a chance for another goal scoring  in the twenty eight minute with a telling cross into the box ,with the Mizo forward failing to connect the header. There was cooling break for both the teams in the twenty ninth minute as the heated action warmed up their system.

Punjab continued  trying their  long ball theory but that did not seem to be working very well. Mizoram  were positively winning  the ball and continued their flow with an array of short passes. Mizoram made another wonderful move in the thirty fifth minute but the shot from the cross from the right flank fizzed passed the woodwork of Punjab. There were ample clearances from both sides without any constructive play. The game pace was getting effected because of fouls from both the teams. Punjab continued  pressing  the Mizoram players and  were somehow winning  the ball and with eventually winning  a free kick in a goal scoring position as forward Jitender Rawat was fouled upon by the Punjab stopper. The free-kick from Punjab but hits the wall and a yellow card  was giving to Mizoram defender Laldinpuia PC for averting the Punjab attack via a rash tackle. Four minutes of injury time were added before the end of the half giving the northern side a chance for a comeback. Mizoram tried to look cute in the box with a back heal by midfielder Lalbiakhlua  in the third minute of injury time but failed to find any teammate. The referee blew the whistle for half time as  Mizoram looked  happier of the two sides going into the break.

Punjab made their second substitution for Punjab  replacing  no.17 Jagdeep Singh by no.10 forward Baltej Singh. Mizoram were attacking from right to left, while Punjab attacked from left to right in the second half. Mizoram continued to attack in numbers and a were passing the ball frequently into the box, which was being headed out by the Punjabi defenders. Midfielder Gurtej Singh  conceded a yellow card for a rash foul out of aggression. In the first substitution for Mizoram  No.21 midfielder Laltan Puia came in ,replacing forward Dawng Liana. Punjab tried  to build up an attack in the sixty fifth minute but Mizoram broke  the same up with  cross into the box and Punjab somehow cleared the ball. The battle was majorly happening in the mid-field as both the teams tried to make most of the mid-field possession.

In their final substitution  No. 12  midfielder Amandep Singh was brought in and Y. Jetlee Singh was sent off. Mizoram were trying  to slow the pace of the game down with  Punjab  who were trying hard to snatch the ball from them. Mizoram collected their first yellow card in the seventieth  by means of defender Thanmawia who fouled on the edge of the box. A second cooling break occurred  for the teams in the seventy fourth minute as they regrouped  trying to figure out their strategy in the last quarter of the match .Punjab continued with their attack down the left flank but the cross hit the Mizo defender and a corner was won for Punjab. The corner  from Punjab side landed in the centre of the box but the Mizoram defenders cleared it easily and almost set up a counter attack.

As the match intensified in the dying moments Mizoram got their second yellow ,with no 21  midfielder Laltan Puia committing  a rash tackle on forward Baltej Singh. Punjab continued their pursuit, playing without any passing flow and Mizoram took advantage of the lack of build-up play .Five minutes were added before the end of full time, giving Punjab a chance to equalize. In the final substitution for Mizoram no.10 Malsawmzuala MC was brought in as a replacement for forward Lal Remruata.

As the match neared to its end defender Sukhjit Singh committed a foul that led to a penalty for the north eastern side. The Mizo  hopes were high ,but were shattered after a sloppy kick from K.Lalmalsawma  that was saved easily by Punjab goalkeeper Moses Anthony. This win led the Mizoram side to the semi finals with an outstanding and intense performance from their side.