Mizoram stuns favourites Goa on the second day of final stage Of Santosh Trophy!

by Spandan Paul March 21, 2018

20th March,2018– 2^nd day of the final stage of 72^nd Santosh Trophy at Rabindra Sarovar Stadium witnessed a humdinger played between two heavyweights Goa and Mizoram, in which the highlanders scripted a scintillating comeback, from being one goal down to clinch an upset victory of 3-1 over the last year runners-up.

Goa skipper Victorino Fernandes opened the floodgates in the 11th minute but Mizoram came back strong, through F. Lalrinpuia, who equalised in the 25th minute. Thereafter two quick successive strikes from Lal Romawia in the 81st and 84th minute helped the 2013-14 champions to clinch a much needed victory and all-important three points.

Mizoram started the proceedings and controlled it in the initial 5 minutes in which they got a nice opportunity in the 2^nd minute itself, when Lalrinpuia‘s free-kick from the right flank was met by skipper Tochhawng, whose header missed the target by a few inches as Goa looked cautious.

But it was not long before the westerners stamped their authority in style as the Indian international, the Goan captain, Victorino Fernandez found the back of the net in the 11^th minute to provide a moment of euphoria to their fans. Marcus Mascarenhas took a sprint through the left flank provided a threatening pass to the India international, who took on a defender and slotted his side’s first goal in an emphatic fashion.

Mizoram after the initial setback recollected themselves, mostly in the backline, and launched  a series of attacks into the Goan half. Both the Mizo forwards Lalrinpuia and Lalrinpuia caused enough headache to the Goan defense; getting a lion’s share of cross delivery by the seasoned campaigner Lalbiakhlua from the right flank. One such ferocious attempt by Lalrinpuia, turning 360 degree, after Remruata failed to connect; was timely blocked by the veteran Peter Carvalho near the goalline, who was a busy man in the latter half.

Nevertheless the highlanders were rewarded with the equalizer in the 25^th minute when Lalrinpuia, locally known as Valpuia found the back of the net in his second attempt after a clumsy display by Goan defenders.

First Remruata’s powerful shot was warded off by Ozen Vivian Silva, the Goan goalie, but the loose ball fell across the former Aizawl FC and current Mizoram Police FC forward, Lalrinpuia; whose first attempt was blocked initially; but his second one took a slight deflection and rolled into the back of the net to neutralise the opening goal by the westerners.

Lalrinpuia was so omnipresent in the whole game that it was him who suffered the first booking of the match when he was shown yellow card for a tackle from behind on Mackroy Peixoto. Goa tried too hard which was evident when Victorino had a long-range shy at the goal which surprisingly was closer to the crossbar than expected.

Victorino again was at the helm of attack for Goa, just a minute prior to the break, but Thanmawia the Mizo full back made a heroic clearance after Remruata failed to put Mizoram ahead , 6 minutes earlier, getting a brilliant ball from Lalmuanzova, the U-21 forward; as both the teams went into the break with scores level at 1-1.

Mizoram took the control of the proceeding; after the play resumed; and had a golden chance to pull ahead in the 49th minute, when Remruata’s header hit the crossbar, after a near-perfect delivery from Lalbiakhlua through the right flank.

Goa seeming indifferent in the second half, got few chances in between, the significant one coming in the form of set-piece. It was initiated from the Dempo-famed veteran. Peter Carvalho, a former Indian international who took a dummy freekick to send a nice through to his left for Jessel Carneiro whose lofted cross was parried away by the ever-alert Mizo custodian Ralte who heaved a sigh of relief when Beevan’s header from the rebound cross went wide by a couple of inches.

Goan coach Armando Colaco was definitely perturbed by his non-performing midfield as he brought on fresh legs in the form of  U-21 players with the intention to increase their pace in order to match up to the highlanders.

But it paid very limited dividends as by then Mizoram has had a strong hold over the proceedings and bent their back hard, to generate a lead. Lalrinpuia came close in 71^st minute when his powerful shot; after a lay off behind by Remruata; missed the target.

Then came Lal Romawia the U-21 defender who plays for Chanmari West FC in MPL! Till then he entertained all and sundry with his skills and ball control; but suddenly took the proceedings by storm when he slotted in 2 goal within two minutes to shove Goa out of the contention.

The first goal in the 81^st minute was a fascinating team effort when Lalrinpuia initiated a counter-attack as he provided a diagonal cross towards the right flanks to Lalbiakhlua, whose cross towards left was headed down to Romawia by Remruata ; showcasing brilliant presence of mind. Romawia made no mistake whatsoever as he slotted in through the right corner to generate the much important lead for the North-Eastern side.

Goan backline, completely rattled by the second goal, were devastated by the third, which was a solo effort from Romawia when he found the ball just outside the D-box  after sprinting past a Goan defender. He was exquisite in finishing as the curler beat the diving Goan custodian, to settle into the left top corner to seal a remarkable turn-around by the highlanders which took everyone by surprise; since nobody had apprehend a final scoreline like this.

With this result Mizoram went atop the group B, leading Punjab on a better goal difference. They will square off against Odisha on Thursday while Goa would hope for a better show when they face Karnataka on the same day.