I-League: Lively Lalliansanga's lightning brace helps Aizawl FC leap to late victory over Sudeva Delhi
LALLIANSANGA EMERGED AS the saviour for Aizawl FC as they overturned a deficit to claim a last minute victory over Sudeva Delhi FC.
The 2016-17 champions had their worst start to the season this time with four back to back losses and they came into this match as the current bottom-table team. Sudeva Delhi, Who had turned around their own unsatisfactory start with a win and a draw against Churchill Brothers and newcomers Rajasthan United, were looking to break into the top 7 with a victory over a the struggling Reds, thereby guaranteeing safety from the relegation round and a crack at the championship round.
And their plan got off to a near perfect start when defender Nishchal Chandan was set up by Sairuat Kima to get Sudeva a lead just 4 minutes in. This was the 22 year old's first senior level goal, and looked set to be a significant one as the tight back-and-forth between the two teams failed to produce a single break through on either side for the rest of the regulation time.
But it was at the death of the game, in added time, that Lalliansanga, who was in that Chhinga Veng FC squad that almost earned a promotion to I-League in 2018-19, shined under immense pressure, netting back to back two goals in the 91st and 93rd minute.
The incredible late turnaround granted the Peoples' Club their first win of the season.
The win comes as a huge moral boost to the popular club from Mizoram, who are now on the 11th place in the table with 3 points from 5 matches. Sudeva Delhi are not far ahead of them, with 4 points off 5 games, sitting on the 9th position. Both clubs will likely see their struggles to break into the top 7 continue for a while.
But Aizawl FC have an opportunity to utilise the winning momentum when they take on Indian Arrows on Sudnay. Sudeva, meanwhile, have a tough test awaiting them on the same day as they face a fiesty new contender in Sreenidi Deccan FC.
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