I-League 2024-25: Aizawl FC register 2-0 win over relegation rivals Delhi FC
Aizawl FC beat relegation rivals Delhi FC 2-0 in their I-League encounter at the Mahilpur Football Stadium
- HOSHIARPUR — Aizawl
FC beat relegation rivals Delhi FC 2-0 in their I-League encounter at the
Mahilpur Football Stadium on Sunday. Lalbiakdika (40’, 77’) scored a brace to
give his side the crucial three points.
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- The victory edged Aizawl away from the bottom two for the
first time in the calendar year with 19 points from as many matches, albeit
having played a game more than SC Bengaluru. Delhi, with 13 points from 19
games, remain rock bottom.
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- Aizawl flew off the blocks and could well have put the game
out of reach within the first 25 minutes if it wasn’t for some bad luck and
inefficient finishing. Lalthankhuma was the first to come close, his header
drifting just wide of the far post.
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- A few minutes later, a horrible goalkeeping error by Debnath
Mondal saw the ball fall at the feet of Laltlanzova in the six yard box, albeit
at an acute angle. The winger decided to cut it back with an empty goal at his
mercy and Delhi cleared.
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- The goal was always coming though, and Delhi’s inability to
really break out of defence and create problems for Aizawl were clear to see.
An early substitution did little to ebb the flow. In the 38th minute, Aizawl
finally opened the scoring when Lalbiakdika picked up an errant clearance that
had drifted from the right all the way across the box. With his first touch he
beat his marker, cut on to his favoured foot and fired it home at the near
post. It was a lead they deserved.
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- Aizawl continued to control and dominate the game in the
second half too, and Lalbiakdika had opportunities to double their lead. The
winger scored his second in the 76th minute, to double Aizawl’s lead. As he ran
on to a through ball, substitute goalkeeper Lalmuansanga came off his line in
an attempt to clear it away. Lalbiakdika neatly rounded the goalkeeper before
finishing into an empty net. At no point of time, even late in the game, did
the lead look under threat, as the visitors controlled the game to take the
three points and leave Delhi’s survival hopes hanging by a thread, six points off
safety.
