90th minute goal by Danmawia makes up for conceded penalty, gets Aizawl a 2-1 win over Churchill
IT WAS EXPECTED TO BE A TIGHT AFFAIR and it did start off that way. Neither sides were willing to commit too many players forward as the man-marking game was active for both sides. The deadlock was broken by Keenan giving away a penalty which gave Aizawl the lead.
Lyngdoh had an off day as he missed some good chances. Albino made some great stops to keep Kromah at bay. In the opening first half, Chesterpoul had got the ball from Costa in the middle of the edge of the top of the box. He prepared to take a shot but his body was not in the best of position to get the shot away. Al Amnah had made a run down the right and entered the box. His cross was for two waiting in the box but Keenan meets the cross midway and cleared away.
Kamo with a half hearted effort, could not connect his left footed shot. Chullova tried to look for a pass but saw no option and shoots, simple catch for Naveen. Bektur was being closely marked in the first half was at the receiving end of many fouls. Great move from Churchill when Bektur found himself free in the midfield with a wall pass and played it to Kromah was in the box. His first touch let him down.
Keenan gave away a silly penalty away and Chullova calmly slotted it past Naveen to break the deadlock.
Chesterpoul was picked up well in the box on the right side of the box. His low shot to the far end of the goal was saved well by the full stretched Albino's hand.
Kamo gets in space in the box with Al Amnah confusing with a fake run. Kamo shoots but way over. Brandon Fernandes' powerful shot swerved a bit in midair but Albino held on.
Second half began with the rains coming down on to the pitch.
Kamo was denied very well by Naveen as Kamo got the better of Adil Khan with his twists and turns. He had an empty net and just the keeper to beat, he shoots and the Naveen makes a brilliant save to deny the goal scoring opportunity.
Straight out of the one box at one end, the action jumped to the other end. Lyngdoh was in the box on the left side. He had the chance to test the keeper but delayed that and made a square pass in the middle and the attack ended.
Handball by Chullova has Kromah arguing with the ref that it should have been a yellow card. Kromah in the box was fed a great ball in the Aizawl box. He brings the ball down very well but Kinglsey was marking him tightly, gets the ball away for a corner.
Keenan chests down a long ball into his box to his keeper, unaware that Rane was lurking. Could have been dangerous for Churchill had Naveen not got there first.
Brandon had set up Kromah to free the striker in the box and split opening the AFC defence. Kromah had just Albino to beat he shoots and the ball is closer to the corner than the goal. Pankaj with a shot from inside the box, his volley goes wide of the post.
Penalty awarded to Churchill as Brandon was brought down in the box by Danmawia. Kromah makes no mistake and slots it home.
Ashutosh met a corner with a header and missed by not too much. Rane chance was slide in to space and went for a side-footed far corner finish but could not find the goal.
Gabriel was set up by Kromah inside the box and he shoots with power straight at Albino and he makes a strong punch. Danmawia who gave away the penalty for the equalizer stepped up and made a fine run in the box and the lofted ball was guide past an incoming Naveen to score the winner for Aizawl in the 90th minute. Amnah got the ball in the Churchill half after Rowlison's mistake. Amnah delayed the shot inside the box,chips to the far end to a team mate but Churchill intercepted and cleared away.
That last minute goal by Danmawia was the killing blow for Churchill who had themselves to balms after missing on glorious chances to score and Albino who made some fine saves.
