Defending champion Aizawl FC returned to winning track and blanked Chennai City FC by 2-0 in an I-League 2017-18 match at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Aizawl on Saturday.
Aizawl FC’s Japanese striker Yugo Kobayashi drew the first blood in the 26th minute of the first half converting a penalty into goal. Six minutes later David Lalrinmuana scored the second goal of the match. The attacking midfielder fired a left-footer from a square pass from Ionescu and sent the ball to Chennai City FC net thus completing the final score line of the match.
Aizawl FC coach Paulo Menezes made four changes in the side that lost to Mohun Bagan. Yugo Kobayashi, David Lalrinmuana, Albert Zohmingmawia and C Lalrosanga all were included in the XI against Chennai City FC with an unbeaten record in previous three matches.
The defending champion had lost the previous outing against Mohun Bagan. But this time, the Aizawl FC players were in no mood to lose in the home turf. They stepped up their tempo and started playing attacking football to keep the opposite defence busy all the time. The first half saw the dominance of the host team in ball possession.
Aizawl FC’s Romanian Andrei Ionescu, David Lalrinmuana and Albert Zohmingmawia kept the Chennai City FC defence busy all the time with their creative moves.
The visitors came close to reducing the deficit just a couple of minutes later the second goal when skipper Soosairaj’s shot at goal was well saved by Aizawl FC custodian Avliash Paul.
The second half of the match witnessed attack and counter attack by both the teams but no goal was scored.
David Lalrinmuana was declared the man of the match.