Upset: relegated Aizawl FC beat champions Bengaluru 2-1 in inaugural Federation Cup match

A FEW DAYS AGO, his voice almost shook with strong emotion when he spoke to TFG of a resolution that most would laugh off as big talk from a small team. 

But Jahar Das had uttered those words with unshakable conviction,

"Yes, we're going up against the champions. But you'll see what happens. Because our boys will be very very tight (sic). Initially they were a little bit nervous, now that nervousness is gone and you'll see the result... we will show the people and the champions how difficult it is to beat Aizawl FC who have been relegated."

That was Monday. About 5 days before Aizawl FC were to go up against Bengaluru FC in the quarter-final round of the Federation Cup. Although the newly-promoted Aizawl had put up a tough fight last time they played at the picturesque Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in the Mizoram capital, hardly anybody had thought the newly-relegated Aizawl would go one over that and actually defeat the newly crowned Champions of India.

When the game started there was little indication that such an upset could be coming our way. The Blues got a chance to go up early on when an Eugeneson corner was headed towards the goal by John Johnson but Albert Zohmingmawia cleared it from the goal line. Minutes later Lyngdoh would have scored himself had Aizawl keeper Soram Poirei not been alert.

But soon came the lead for the champions. It was Eugeneson Lyngdoh once again who created the chance, feeding Kim Song-yong a pass that was primed for a tap-in. Bengaluru FC were leading, 15 minutes in.

But soon Aizawl FC regained control of the game. It was as though they had shed their initial nervousness and being a goal down, played freely with nothing to lose. Soon they were seeing most of the ball, initiating attacks, and BFC were reduced to making desperate tackles to preserve their lead.

Bengaluru keeper Amrinder Singh was having a good day; he made a couple of good saves on shots sent in by David Lalrinmuana. But the home team was inching closer to finding an equalizer, constantly egged on by their fans in the jam-packed arena.

And it came not long after the half hour mark. Alfred Jaryan was running into the Aizawl box with Curtis Osano in tow. Osano put a step wrong, letting Alfred through, and the latter took a powerful low shot from outside the box that went right past Amrinder into the net. Aizawl FC were level, and we had a contest on our hands.

That the equalizer was no fluke was clear by the way Aizawl FC asserted themselves throughout the second half. Albert was almost through on a counter attack and Lalchhuanmawia had no option but to bring him down, taking a yellow for the professional foul. Then Alfred Jaryan caught Amrinder out of position but sent the ball wide.

Although most of the chances were coming from Aizawl, BFC got a couple of chances that Poirei managed to clear. But suddenly, the ball found the net 83 minutes in when Alfred Jaryan spied up on a great save from Amrinder to shoot the ball in, but the linesman thought he had pushed Lalchhuanmawia on his way in and raised the flag. Trouble ensued as Aizawl players protested vehemently, even pushing the assistant referee a couple of times. Even the crowd was on their feet, and someone threw a small stone that landed near Ashley Westwood that the coach angrily displayed to the match officials. The match was held up for a while, but when it resumed, the home team greeted the champions with a fresh wave of attacks.

Alfred Jaryan almost found the post when Lalnunfela sent him a great pass but the ball brushed the post and went out. But minutes later, the unthinkable had happened.

Alfred sent the ball to Joel Sunday. The latter let fly, the ball hopping its way past Amrinder who had longingly stretched out his hand towards the ball, but too far to touch it. The same Sunday who missed multiple opportunities in the game against Salgaocar was bang on this time. Aizawl FC had taken the lead, and all there was left to the game was the 4 minutes added on by the referee.

BFC tried to get one back but they were no match for Aizawl. The home team held on until the final whistle inevitably rang out. The relegated team had beaten the champions. The mighty Bengaluru FC were now going back home with a deficit. And the Peoples' Club from Mizoram had made good on its coach's words; they had won the game 2-1.

Although this was by no means the end of the tie. Aizawl won the home leg, now they will have to face Bengaluru FC at Kanteerava. And they don't have much of an advantage; even a 1-0 win will be enough for BFC to get through to the semi-finals thanks to the away goal rule. But there's no doubt that the young team of Aizawl FC, who came into the Federation Cup to prove a point, will put up a hell of a fight against the Blues in their attempt to pull off a miracle that many are still saying they are incapable of achieving.