I-League 2017-18 MATCH REPORT -- Mohun Bagan manage to hold Aizawl FC, crowd attacks referee

THE FIRE HAS DIED DOWN a bit, at least among the fans of Aizawl FC.

The avalanche of support that the club saw last season fuelled by their historic title run is nowhere to be seen this time around. But still the crowd that trickled into the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Salem Veng, Aizawl to see the People's Club take on their main opponents from last season was sizeable enough. And although more than half of the constructed stands were empty, the hills surrounding the pitch were full as usual.

Both Mohun Bagan and Aizawl FC were coming into this game with a will not to lose. For Aizawl, this was the last game before they went off to Iran to play the incredibly difficult AFC Champions League playoff match against Zob Ahan, and coach Paulo Menezes did not want a loss to upset their rhythm. 

For Mohun Bagan, winning the Derby was a huge boost, and with the title race practically out of their reach, a draw was a result to be content with. Shankarlal Chakraborty, who was lauded by fans and critics alike for introducing a short passing game into the fabric of the Mariners' attack, put special emphasis on long balls and crosses in the practice sessions leading up to the match, citing the breathing difficulties most of his players would experience due to the altitude, and Aizawl FC players having a general height disadvantage.

The start did not go well for the home team. Just 30 seconds into the match, Yugo Kobayashi committed a rather unnecessary foul and went on the referee's book. Both team got a couple of early set pieces that they failed to capitalize on. Soon, the match settled into an aggressive back and forth but neither team was maing much headway in the final third; it was a duel in the midfield.

Mohun Bagan got a free kick fro the scoring range 12 minutes into the game but the free kick was played straight into Aizawl keeper Avilash Paul's hands. The Mariners got another good chance when Raynier beat Jaryan and sent the ball into the box for Akram Moghrabi to get a touch on but the latter fell short.

Arijit Bahgui, playing right back, was maing some nice runs up the flank. He overlapped and sent a cross for Dicka to convert but the latter could not run up to meet it in time. It was a sign that the Cameroonian striker was not fully fit.

Bagui faced a big test just minutes later when Andrei got past him and played it into the box where Albert tried to chest it down, but Shilton Paul got a hold of it.

Then just after the half hour mark Dicka went down, aggrevating his old hamstring injury. He limped off, and immediately Manandeep Singh had to replace him. The event raised a major question over why the Mohun Bagan coaching staff decided to play a striker not fully fit in the first place, that too on an artificial turf.

The best chance for Aizawl FC in the first half came when Dodoz won the ball near the halfline and sprinted straight ahead, picking a gap in the Mohun Bagan defence. He beat Watson with his pace, had two defenders getting close but managed to invade the MB box, took the shot from the edge of the box... Shilton Paul got a hold of it.

The first half stayed goalless.

The second half began with a similar style of sparring between the two teams. Dodoz got a chance to go for it from scoring range but Rana Gharami blocked it with his body and got hurt... but he was able to recover and continue. Dodoz then moved to the flank and ran up, playing a cross into the middle for Andrei who was running up... but Shilton Paul got to the ball first. 

A the hour mark, Mohun Bagan introduced Chesterpaul Lyngdon in the wing replacing Faiaz when it became apparent he was being constantly outrun. He immediately started having an effect on the game, with a gem of a cross for Akram that David intercepted. David himself, however, was not having a good time; he hit wide off good chances a couple of times and got replaced by Lalthathanga.

A corner kick saw Aizawl create extended pressure on the Mohun Bagan box. And this was the first sign that the tide of the offence was turning towards the home team. Over the next several minutes Aizawl defenitely had the better flow, had considerably more speed and better precision. The attack intensified when Albert made way for former Indian international Shylo Mama.

And then came the goal. From none other than super substitute Lalthathanga. Dodoz sent a killer cross into the box that Lalthathanga fired at the target, Shilton Paul got a hand on the ball but the momentum behind the shot took the ball straight into the net. The gallery exploded and the Aizawl players celebrated; they had taken a second half lead against their rivals, just like last season.

But the lead did not last long. A ball was played to Akram and Avilash went up to intercept him. The collision between them was rather soft but the referee pointed towards the penalty spot. Manandeep Singh stepped up and converted it. It was 1-1.

An insane back and forth ensued. Andrei got a great chance inside the Mohun Bagan box and he targeted the far post but it came off the post. Then Mohun Bagan countered, earned a coerner, and when it was defended well Manandeep tried a long ranger that Avilash had to dive full tilt to the right to deflect out of the target.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, neither team was holding back. Dodoz got yet another good ball on the left but he ruined the cross. Then Aizawl FC earned a 30 yard free kick that Andrei took with 5 Aizawl FC players lining up inside the box. He delivered the right footed curler towards Dodoz but Rana Gharami jumped in front of it and headed it out.

Alfred Jaryan got booked for a foul near the halfline and the Aizawl FC players rounded up the referee complaining about the decision. The fans at this point were continuously chanting "referee out," accusing him of being biased. The referee, Senthil Nathan S, came under further pressure when awarded a soft free kick to Mohun Bagan in the scoring range. But Cameron Watson made a mess of the delivery.

Aizawl FC made repeated attacks till the last minute and looked like the superior team. One such attack saw Alfred Jaryan attempt to head a cross in and landed badly, hurting himself and going out on a stretcher. The fervour of the game went on till the last second but no further goal came; it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Aizawl FC coach immediately complained to the referee about decisions, furious to lose out on a potential win. The fans immediately turned on the referee and bottles, chairs were thrown at him as he tried to get out of the pitch. The security guards had to sit him at the dug out to protect him from the missiles and Aizawl FC owner Robert Royte had to take the mic and appeal to the fans to be calm. It was several minutes before the referee could leave. 

The Mohun Bagan coach wasn't as worked up; it was the very first time Mohun Bagan had come away from Aizawl with anything other than a loss.

The post match ugliness may result in some fines and maybe bigger penalties for the defending champions. But for now they have bigger worries as they leave for Iran to take on Zob Ahan in the ACL Playoffs.

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