Aizawl FC create history, win ILeague
MILESTONE Lalnunfela equaliser helps Mizoram team hold Lajong, win maiden league title ahead of fancied Mohun Bagan
SHILLONG: If this is the end of the I-League, it would have left a lot of people in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partners chagrined.
All hail Aizawl FC as India champions but the way Mohun Bagan chased them and the manner in which excitement ebbed and flowed from Shillong to the Sarovar stadium in Kolkata, was proof of this largely moribund competition’s ability to surprise.
Aizawl FC scripted the most magical story in recent times in Indian football by drawing 1-1 with Shillong Lajong FC which ensured them their maiden I-League title. William Lalnunfela scored a 68th minute equaliser for Aizawl FC after Dipanda Dicka gave Lajong the lead in the ninth minute.
Mohun Bagan needed to win against Chennai City FC and hope Aizawl lost to Lajong. They did win but Lalnunfela’s goal meant that I-League found a new champion.
In Kolkata, Mohun Bagan, down to 10 men, after goalie Debjit Majumder was shown the red card for stepping out in the 80th minute, came from behind to beat newbies Chennai City FC, who punched well above their weight with goalie Karanjit Singh leading the way on the last day of the 10th I-League.
Katsumi Yusa neutralised Nandhakumar S’s 31st minute strike in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Darryl Duffy’s smartly placed shot, off a Jeje Lalpekhlua assist, made it 2-1 but with Aizawl FC having drawn 1-1 against Shillong Lajong after trailing, second was the best they could finish.
At the halftime I just told the boys that you won’t get another such 45 minutes in your life. We had to extra special. KHALID JAMIL, Aizawl FC coach