VASCO: Aizawl FC notched up a crucial victory in the race for the I-League title by downing Churchill Brothers 1-3, at Tilak Maidan, here, on Saturday.
With the win, the northeast team collected 33 points from 16 matches but Mohun Bagan still lead the table standings with goal differences after their win against Minerva Punjab.
A brace from Kamo Bayi (7′, 46′) put Aizawl up by two goals before Anthony D’Souza (69′) pulled one back for the home team. But Laldunmawia (84′) sealed the points with a brilliant goal late on.
The only change for the home side saw Keenan Almeida, who had picked up his fourth yellow card of the season in the previous round, make way for Fulganco Cardozo as Adil Khan now remains the only player to start in all of Churchill Brothers’ fixtures while Khalid Jamil named an unchanged first 11 from the one that went a goal down to Bengaluru FC in their last match.
The hosts were denied by the post in the fourth minute after Chesterpoul Lyngdoh had connected a header off Meldon D’Silva’s swinging free-kick from the right. However, the ball took a slight deflection from Aizawl goalkeeper Albino Gomes before crashing against the upright.
Four minutes later, Aizawl took the lead. Brandon Vanlalremdika struggled all he could inside the Churchill Brothers box against Meldon and Adil Khan while Bayi made his way through with the ball and slid it between the legs of Naveen Kumar to send the assembled away supporters into delirium.
Churchill Brothers’ second shot on target from Wolfe was an easy save for Gomes before Mahmoud Al Amna’s attempt from inside the box on the other side had gone over.
Aizawl were enjoying their away support and the one-goal lead, though Churchill Brothers were not completely out of the contest with occasional attacking moves.
Meanwhile, Kingsley Eze often got the better of the home side’s attacking duo of Anthone Wolfe and Ansumana Kromah.
In the 38th minute, Bayi did well to get past Meldon before Laldanmawia Ralte’s shot through Al Amna’s pass was blocked by Adil and minutes later Brandon Fernandes’ attempt to catch Gomes off his line almost bore fruit but the ball didn’t dip enough.
Churchill Brothers were hardly allowed any time to settle at the change of ends as Brandon Vanlalremdika’s pass for Bayi inside the box resulted in the Ivory Coast national slotting it past Naveen once again.
Soon after, Albino Gomes came up with some quick and crucial saves. Wolfe tried to nod Brandon’s free-kick past the Aizawl goalkeeper who tipped it above his post. Gomes then deflected Brandon Fernandes’ free-kick and the ball bounced on top of the crossbar on its way out.
Vanlalremdika almost made his solo run count but his shot, that didn’t have much power behind it, took a deflection off Adil and ended as a good save for Naveen in the 59th minute.
Churchill Brothers persistence finally paid off in the 69th minute and it’s substitute Anthony D’Souza who gracefully found the back of the net after being played on the left by Wolfe inside the Aizawl box.
In the 80th minute Brandon Fernandes saw his powerful right-footer comes off Kingsley inside the Aizawl box before Laldanmawia killed the game in Aizawl’s favour in the 87th minute with that screamer from the top of the box which Naveen stood no chance against at the right top corner.
That goal sealed what was Derrick Pereira’s second loss as Churchill Brothers coach but more importantly, Aizawl set a marker for Mohun Bagan in the title race.
