MATCH REPORT: A late left-foot strike from Aizawl FC's Kobayashi denies Churchill their first point
IT WAS HEADING TOWARD goalless draw until the 88th minute when Kobayashi struck for Aizawl FC to keep all three points in their first home game of the season.
The home team was dominating in first half with maximum ball possession. At half time, Aizawl had taken about 18 shots but just two were on target. Churchill Brothers failed to apply any pressure throughout the first half. The half time score was 0-0 and with a host of chances created and yet being unable to test the keeper, the full time score too was heading in the same direction.
For Aizawl, Alfred Jaryan was great in the defence and midfield keeping the danger away. In the front line Yugo and Kima were constant threats throughout the game. The second half saw some chances being some half-chances being created by both teams. Just around the hour mark, there was a huge claim for handball by Aizawl FC players in the Churchill box but the referee saw nothing in it.
Shortly afterwards Aizawl FC created two chances, Yugo and Kima involved in both of them. Yugo tries to connect his header from Kima's cross but from 8 to 10 yards out could not keep it on target. With 20 minutes to go in the game, Aizawl should have got their lead but a shot from the box went flying past the goal. On the other end, Churchill could have at least tested the keeper as a long ball in the box had a weak shot taken toward Paul, who did not have to sweat to save it.
Around the 85th minute, Kima did very well to get past defenders and had space in the box when to took a diagonal step get to the ball and went to the ground inside the box. The referee saw this a dive for a penalty claim and booked him. Aizawl got their goal moments after that with Yugo making no error in slotting the ball past Kithan from the very spot he skied his shot earlier in the half. That goal was enough to seal the first home game with a win.
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