I-League 2017/18, Match 53: Aizawl FC vs Mohun Bagan, Player Ratings

The mid-week action continued in the Hero I-League as defending champions Aizawl FC hosted Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl, Mizoram.

The match saw the two sides who are in the middle of the I-League points clash as they aimed to rise high in the standings. Mohun Bagan began the game in the fifth spot on the table with 16 points from 10 matches played. Aizawl FC, on the other hand, is just one spot behind and a game less played, with 14 points from their nine matches so far.

Both the sides came into this match after contrasting results in their respective derbies as Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal in Kolkata whereas Aizawl FC lost against NEROCA FC at home.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw as both the sides battled hard to get the three points. After more than an hour of calm play, the match took an exciting turn when Aizawl opened the scoring through substitute Lalthathaga in the 73rd minute. Manandeep Singh got Bagan on level terms when he scored the spot-kick just five minutes later.

Aizawl FC

Avilash Paul (6/10) - The Aizawl keeper had a relatively quiet outing tonight as Mohun Bagan did not have many clear chances at the goal. He was comfortable in his collections from crosses and corners but conceded the penalty that allowed Bagan to draw level in the match.

C.Lalrosanga (7/10) - The young defender slotted into central defence on account of Kareem Nurain's injury and did well alongside Saighani. He was strong in his challenges and mitigated the threat of the Bagan attack well.

Masih Saighani (7/10) - The Afghan centre-back was a solid presence in the Aizawl FC defence as he kept the strikers in check with his physical presence. He was a constant threat during setpieces whenever Aizawl FC attacked the Bagan goal.

Lalhriatrenga (6.5/10) - The left-back for Aizawl FC was kept busy throughout the match as Mohun Bagan attacked from the flanks with Faiaz and Nikhil Kadam. He made some overlapping runs for the home side when he had the chance and also tracked back well to defend.

Alfred Jaryan (6/10) - The Aizawl skipper was a strong presence in the midfield as he covered a lot of ground for the home side. He made a lot of tackles and interceptions in the centre of the park. Jaryan was sent off in the 89th minute for a foul on Bagan striker Akram Moghrabi.

David Lalrinmuana (7/10) - David was a handy presence in the Aizawl midfield with his movement and passing in the middle of the park. He was assigned the setpiece duty for the home side and put in some really dangerous crosses and corners.

Albert Zohmingmawia (6.5/10) - The right winger for Aizawl had a good day in attack as he kept the Bagan defence occupied with his runs. He had a couple of chances cutting in from the right and was a constant option in attack for Aizawl.

Andrei Ionescu (6.5/10) - The Romanian midfielder played behind the striker Kobayashi and was constantly on the move across the pitch as he looked for good runs from players around him. He had a close chance when his shot hit the woodwork late in the match.

Leonce Dodoz (8.5/10) - The Ivorian winger was a lively presence in the Aizawl midfield as he was the focal point during any of the counter attacks by the home side. He won the ball in the midfield well and had many shots at the goal. He was adjudged the Hero of the Match for his performance in the match.

Yugo Kobayashi (6.5/10) - The Japanese striker played the target man ahead for Aizawl as he did well to keep the Bagan defenders on their toes. He held up the play well whenever Aizawl attacked and was a threat in the air

Substitutes:

Khawhlring Lalthathanga (7/10) - Lalthathanga proved to be a super-sub as he got the goal for the home side after coming on just before the 70-minute mark. He finished a chance off a cross from Dodoz in the box as his effort wasn't kept out well by Shilton Paul in the Bagan goal.

Shylo Malsawmtluanga (6/10) - Mama, as he is popularly known, came on for the final 20 minutes as Menezes made some attacking changes to his lineup in search of the goal.

Mohun Bagan

Shilton Paul (6.5/10) - The veteran Mohun Bagan keeper had a good outing on the park even though he was beaten once by the substitute Khawlhring in the second half. Throughout the match, Shilton made good collections from crosses and a couple of saves from long range.

Arijit Bagui (6/10) - The Mohun Bagan right-back was kept busy throughout the match as Leonce Dodoz ran riot on the left flank many times on the match.

Rana Gharami (6.5/10) - Rana Gharami started today as Kinshuk Debnath sat out due to injury and Gharami did total justice to his selection. He was strong in the defence along with Kingsley and won a lot of aerial duels and interceptions to keep the Aizawl FC attackers out.

Kingsley Eze (6.5/10) - The former Aizawl FC man had a decent outing for the most part of the match as the visitors did well to keep the Aizawl FC attacking threat in check. Eze was strong in his tackles and made a lot of interceptions.

Ricky Lallawmawma (6.5/10) - The left-back for Bagan had a busy night at both ends of the pitch as he made good runs whenever they attacked and also did well to fall back in defence whenever the team required.

Raynier Fernandes (7/10) - Raynier Fernandes had an industrious match as he was highly active in the midfield for Bagan. He complimented the calmness of Watson well with his energetic presence as they kick-started the attacks from the midfield.

Cameron Watson (6.5/10) - Watson was a calming presence in the midfield and moved the ball around well in the middle of the park. He combined well with Raynier Fernandes and kept looking for runs on the wings with diagonal aerial balls.

Sheikh Faiaz (6.5/10) - The pacy winger from Kolkata who has been one of the finds for Bagan this season had a good first half as he made a lot of runs through the centre as well as the flanks. He had a comparatively quiet start to the second half and was substituted just before the 60th minute when Chesterpaul Lyngdoh came on.

Nikhil Kadam (7/10) - The winger who was one of the brightest players in the derby had a good match as he plied his trade on the wings for the Bagan side. He was constantly on the lookout for good runs from the attackers ahead of him. Kadam was also on setpiece duty throughout the match and put in good deliveries.

Asier Dipanda Dicka (4.5/10) - The Cameroonian attacker, who is also the league's top scorer this season had an outing to forget as he got injured in an early incident when he collided in an effort to take a shot. He was substituted off at the half-hour mark when he went down with an injury and was replaced by Manandeep Singh.

Akram Moghrabi (7.5/10) - The Lebanese, who was playing his second match of the season played in the attack just behind the main striker. He was good with his movement and superiority in the air during corners and created a lot of chances for the visitors.

Substitutes:

Manandeep Singh (7.5/10) - The former Minerva Punjab FC striker came on to replace Dicka in the 30th minute of the match. He used his physicality well to trouble the Aizawl defenders and got his name on the scoresheet when he scored the penalty in the second half of the match to equalize for the visitors.

Chesterpaul Lyngdoh (5/10) - The former DSK Shivajians man came on just before the hour mark in place of Sheikh Faiaz on the wings. The diminutive midfielder was lively on the right wing with his runs and combined well with Nikhil Kadam to create chances for Mohun Bagan.

Surchandra Singh (4.5/10) - Singh came on in the final five minutes of the match as the Bagan coach pushed on for the winner in the last stretch of the match.

Edited by Sagnik Kundu