Bagan grab Aizawl win
Aizawl, Feb. 16: A late goal by Bikramjit Singh saw Mohun Bagan beat Aizawl FC 2- 1 on Saturday, ensuring at least a top- six finish in the ongoing I- League.
Ugandan forward Henry Kisekka put the Green and Maroons forward in the 22nd minute before former Bagan man Ansumana Kromah drew Aizawl level at the half- hour mark. The Kolkata giants left it late for defender Bikramjit to seal three points with a 78th minute strike.
Mohun Bagan are currently sixth with 26 points from 17 games. Neroca are currently fifth with same number of points but a better goal difference. Aizawl remained eighth in the list with 14 points from 16 games.
Bagan boss Khalid Jamil came in with attacking tactics, looking for an early goal. The team’s efforts finally bore fruit when an Abinash Ruidas free- kick from long range was chested down by Henry in the 22nd minute before calmly Real Kashmir’s I- League match in Srinagar on Monday will go ahead as scheduled, despite holders Minerva Punjab FC’s request for either deferring the match or shifting it to a neutral venue in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Pulwama. Minerva, who are yet to reach Srinagar, have decided to forfeit the match, citing security issues as well as to pay homage to the slain CRPF Jawans.
slotted it into the goal.
However, Aizawl came back with a goal of their own just eight minutes later, when Kromah's powerful shot from outside the 18- yard box found the net. Jamil, in search of greater creativity from the middle of the park, brought Egyptian Omar Elhussieny on in place of veteran Mehtab Hossain in the second half.
They finally got the winner late in the second half, when a Sony Norde freekick was met by Bikramjit, who scored the winner. Aizawl gave it their all in the final 10 minutes, however, the Green and Maroons managed to hold on to their lead till the end.
KERALA, ARROWS
SHARE SPOILS Gokulam Kerala FC’s winless run got extended to three months after Indian Arrows held the hosts to a 1- 1 draw in a bottom of the table I- League fixture on Saturday.
Rahul KP gave Arrows the lead in the first half but Trinidadian striker Marcu Leric Joseph’s fourth goal in as many games in the second, ensured there was not a repeat of the first leg fixture between the two sides, where the Arrows won by a solitary goal. Gokulam stay at 10th position while Arrows remain in seventh position.