Disappointing draw between Aizawl FC and Shillong Lajong as home team rues denied penalty
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED I-League clash between Aizawl FC and Shillong Lajong didn't quite delivered the fireworks as both clubs decided to play it safe and go home satisfied with a point each.
Aizawl FC, playing their first match under new head coach Jahar Das, made three changes to bring in Albert Zohmingmawia, Emma Chigozie and Lalmuankima into the side. Thangboi Singto, the Shillong Lajong head coach, turned to two Mizo players in his team -- Zodingliana Tochhawang and Lalram Muana -- as well as Nimdorjee Tamang to enter the first eleven.
Lajon got three early corners in the game but nothing came off them. Kinowaki tried to initiate an attack by finding Lalmuankima with a through ball but the offside flag went up. Then Albert ran up the right flank and sent a cross into the Lajong box that got saved by the keeper.
Aizawl FC were now controlling proceedings. They got a couple of corners that did them no good. Lajong replied with Shadap's run up the right wing and a cross to Rammuana that could have been dangerous had Chigozie not got in the way.
But just when things were looking good the visitors suffered a blow when striker Fabio Pena fell and hurt himself trying to get to a cross from Haokip. Uilliams Bomfin had to replace him less than half an hour into the game.
Alfred Jaryan got a chance to get his side ahead when he let fly from a scoring range outside the box, but it went wide. Penn Orji tried to reply with a through ball to Rammuana but Chullova intercepted it.
But when Lajong's Pritam Kumar suddenly found himself with some space and threatened to invade the Aiawl box, defender Lalruatthara ran in to stop him with a professional foul and accepted the yellow card.
The first half ended goalless, and the second half too began in the same veign of conservative safety-first gameplay. Lajong got a free kick that Boithang Haokip curled into the middle of the box but a defender cleared it for corner. Then Uilliams had a chance to knock the ball into the net but didn't time his shot right.
After the hour mark, Aizawl FC made three quick substitutions. Lalrinpuia made way for Yatsushi Yonezawa, and Laram Muana was replaced by Jaco Lalrawngbawla. A bit later Kawrtethawveng Laldampuia, a deubtant, came out to replace Zohmingmawia. But the injection of fresh legs did little to lift the home team's game.
Aizawl FC got a good free kick from the edge of the box and skipper David Lalrinmuana took it. The shot was kept out by Lajong keeper Vishal Kaith but the rebound came to Kinowaki who failed to tap in an easy chance. Soon, Alfred Jaryan managed to find his way into the Lajong box and shoot the ball into goal but it got denied because the referee had already spotted him fouling Pritam Kumar on his way in.
And then, just as the match went past 80 minutes, came a fateful moment that saw Aizawl FC being denied a golden opportunity to win this match. Lajong defender Pritam Kumar brought down Laldampuia inside the box but referee Animesh Biswas did not blow his whistle and waved it off.
And that was it. None of the teams managed to get a good chance in the remaining few minutes and the game ended in a seemingly inevitable 0-0 stalemate. Shillong Lajong were happy to bag their first point away from home and take their tally to 8 points from 6 matches. The home team, however, will once again rue missed opportunities and a penalty denied to them that could have sealed their victory. Their campaign continues to inch forward at a snail's pace, sitting on 5 points from 7 matches; still just a gasp above bottom-table Salgaocar who have 2 points from 6 games.
This draw ultimately will increase the pressure on both the teams as they both have tough fixtures to take care of next. Lajong will travel to Kolkata to take on Mohun Bagan on Wednesday. Aizawl FC will host Mumbai FC next Saturday, who have established themselves as one of the stronger sides this season. In the end, today's match was one that left almost everyone involved deeply dissatisfied.
