I-League: Aizawl strike twice against Neroca for second win

Kolkata, Jan 30 : Aizawl FC beat Neroca FC 2-1 in the fifth round of the I-League at the Mohun Bagan Ground here on Saturday. With this win, the Mizoram team moved up the table with seven points and are now placed four points behind leaders Churchill Brothers, and have one game in hand.
MC Malsawmzuala scored the winner in the 56th minute after Judah Emmanuel Garcia had cancelled PC Laldinpuia’s first-half header.
Neroca, who came into the match after a 1-4 defeat against Gokulam Kerala, started the game with attacking intent, and within three minutes, had two chances to score. Khanngam Horam latched on to a forward pass from Jude Garcia in the second minute. However, his shot was blocked and sent for a corner. Later, a Horam header off a corner went out.
Aizawl settled down after the early scare and threatened the Neroca goal through a number of corners. They, however, only tested the goalkeeper in the 15th minute, when C Laldinpuia reached Malsawmtluanga’s corner but the defender’s header went straight to goalkeeper Bishorjit Singh.
Five minutes later, Bishorjit was forced to make another save to keep the scores equal as Ramhlunchhunga chested a cross down to his feet and took a shot. The Neroca custodian had to come off his line quickly and deny him the opener. In the 28th minute, Aizawl were again denied the opening goal as Alfred Jaryan’s header was cleared off the goal line.
Aizawl kept threatening and reaped rewards for their efforts in the 37th minute. An in-swinging cross delivered by Malsawmtluanga was met by Laldinpuia, who sent his header past a stranded Bishorjit Singh in the Neroca goal.