22nd January 2016 – Aizawl, India – DSK Shivajians Football Club lost 2-0 to Aizawl FC in their second Hero I-League match in Aizawl, Mizoram. This was the first time the two debutant clubs were playing each other.
The match began with a spark as the tackles started flying in within the first minute. Both the teams were yet to register a victory in the Hero I-League 2015-16 season, and both the teams showed their will to win right from the whistle.
The first real chance of the match fell to DSK Shivajians, when Indrajit broke free in the 5th minute from the left flank and curled in a delightful cross, but Perrick failed to connect with the ball and Surchandra’s shot on the follow-up was wide of the target.
The visitors were at it again when, in the 10th minute, Amiri took a direct free kick from the wing, which caught the Aizawl FC goalkeeper off-guard. However, the keeper made amends by diving down to block the shot.
In 15th minute of the match, Perrick broke from the flank to find Surchandra in the box, but the ball was chipped out of play by the defence before Surchandra could get a clean touch on the ball. The resulting corner was conveniently cleared by the home team.
Against the run of play, in the 18th minute, Aizawl FC broke the deadlock after ball fell to Alfred Jaryan as defenders tried to clear the same. Jaryan took his time to place the ball in the back of the net and give the home side a valuable lead.
The goal helped Aizawl FC spark into life as they started keeping more of the ball. In the 28th minute, David was brought down by Amiri, who was then cautioned. The resulting free kick was cleared by Ralte.
In the 38th minute, Subrata Paul denied David by an exceptional diving save to keep the score at 1-0. Minutes later, Jaryan was at it again, but this time, his volley was blocked by Justin who put his body in the way.
Moments from the first half, Subrata Paul made to back-to-back reflex saves to keep Aizawl FC’s lead in check, however, the ball fell to Yuta Kinowaki, who fired it home to make sure that Aizawl FC went into the break with a lead of two goals.
The second half was a different story as both the teams struggled to recreate the aggression of the first half. The half began slowly with both teams trying hard to keep the ball for extended period.
After extended exchange of passes by both teams, DSK Shivajians conceded a corner in the 54th minute when Justin blocked a pass from David. The ball from the corner was held on tight by Subrata Paul, who found Perrick on the break, but the latter couldn’t control the ball first time.
Aizawl FC piled on the pressure as Ralte made a crucial interception to prevent conceding another goal in the 56th minute. DSK Shivajians tried to hit the home team on the counter, but Milan’s mishit shot was held on by Zothanmawia.
Aizawl FC started dominating the proceedings in the final minutes of the match as Subrata Paul stepped up to make two magnificent saves and keep the score at 2-0.
DSK Shivajians will now travel to Kolkata, where they will face East Bengal on 26th January 2016.
