Aizawl, EB miss chances aplenty, I-league tie ends in goalless draw
MISSING TARGET Home team fails to capitalise on chances in illtempered contest
AIZAWL: Defending champions Aizawl FC and East Bengal played out a goalless draw in an entertaining I-league match on Tuesday, with both sides failing to convert the chances that came their way. The game started with a high tempo as the home side pressed for an early goal. Liberian midfielder Jaryan’s shot flew wide of the post and William Lalnunfela was awarded a golden opportunity by Albert only to waste it from six yards.
East Bengal grew in confidence and Katsumi was looking dangerous, especially from the dead-ball situations but Avilash Paul stood like a rock at the Aizawl goal. At the half-hour mark, Katsumi was unlucky as his thunderous shot struck the crossbar. He poked at the rebound again but Aizawl goalkeeper Avi- lash pushed it over.
East Bengal introduced local boy Brandon in the first half but the diminutive winger could not make much of an influence.
With the quarter of the game gone, Jaryan again tested East Bengal goalkeeper Barreto with his powerful right-footer but Eduardo thwarted the danger.
The second half began with a heated altercation between players of both sides as former Aizawl midfielder Al-amna and Afghan defender Masih Saighani were booked by referee Rosario Fernandes. Midfield battle was the highlight of the game as both sides found it hard to engineer an open goal-mouth action.
NEROCA BLANK ARROWS
VASCO: Neroca FC scored a goal in each half to beat Indian Arrows 2-0 in an entertaining match of the I-league on Tuesday.
Both the teams played an attacking game but it was NEROCA who had more of the ball possession and scoring chances, especially in the first half.
The Manipur side took the lead through an own goal by Arrows defender Anwar Ali in the 18th minute before Odil Felix Chidi (90+3) found the net in the stoppage time. The win took Neroca’s tally to 18 points from 9 matches, one point less than East Bengal who are second but have played one more game.