Aizawl beat Shivajians in battle of I-League debutants

Aizawl, Jan 22: Hosts Aizawl FC defeated DSK Shivajians FC 2-0 in a clash between two debutant clubs to pick up their first points in the I-league here on Friday.

It was the first time two debutant sides played against each other in I-league. The home team are now fourth in the standings with three points from as many matches. DSK were seventh with a single point after two matches. Liberian Alfred Jaryan (18th minute) and Japanese Yuta Kinowaki (45) scored for the winning team. The match began with a spark as the tackles started flying in from the beginning. Both teams were winless prior to the match and exhibited willingness to score goals and win.

DSK Shivajians got the first real chance of the match, when Indrajeet Chougale broke free in the fifth minute from the left flank but his curled cross wasn't connected by Pierric Dipanda Dica and Surchandra Singh's shot on the follow-up was wide.

DSK's Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri's 10th-minute free kick was blocked by a diving Zothanmawia. Pierric was a threat and he evaded his marker and found Surchandra inside the box in the 15th minute but his attempt got blocked. Aizawl survived those attacks and went ahead against the run of play, Alfred neatly placing the ball into net. The goal sparked Aizawl FC into life as they enjoying possession, forcing saves out of DSK goalkeeper Subrata Paul. But he was beaten by Kinowakito put Aizawl 2-0 up at half-time. Both teams struggled to recreate the aggression of the first half after thee break. The half began slowly with both teams trying hard to keep the ball for an extended period of time.

Aizawl FC applied more pressure while DSK Shivajians tried to hit the home team on the counterattack. Aizawl FC started domiting the proceedings in the fil minutes of the match as Subrata stepped up to keep the scoreline 2-0. IANS