Internet Desk: The goalless first leg semi-final of the 2016 Federation Cup between Aizawl FC and Sporting Clube de Goa at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Aizawl, Mizoram, on Tuesday leaves the finalists to be decided in Goa on Sunday where the away side will need at least a draw.
The goalless first leg semi-final of the 2016 Federation Cup between Aizawl FC and Sporting Clube de Goa at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Aizawl, Mizoram, on Tuesday leaves the finalists to be decided in Goa on Sunday where the away side will need at least a draw.
End-to-end football ensued through the match with either sides attempting to get the better in the midfield battle with Aizawl ascending in Sporting’s half more often than not but the home side lacked the final ball.
Seriton Fernandes was handed an opportunity by Mahmoud in the 37th minute, but the winger’s control let him down as the game began to have turned to pedestrian pace inching towards the half-time with the scores levelled 0-0.
Crossing over, Seriton was once again on the end of a long diagonal ball but Aizawl goalkeeper Soram Poirei was at hand to run out and punch it away.
Emmanuel Chigozie surprised all by heading wide from handshaking distance Lalrinmuana’s 53rd minute well-directed and dipping free-kick that was a result of Loveday’s foul on Alfred Jaryan.
Sumeet Passi had a go from distance but it was straight down the throat of Poirei before Arindam Bhattacharya, who was hardly tested so far, dived to his left to block an attempt by Jaryan a minute before the hour mark.