SRINAGAR — Real Kashmir FC moved to within two points of the top of I-League
2024-25 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over relegation-battling Aizawl FC at the
TRC Turf Ground in Srinagar on Sunday.
Real Kashmir’s fifth straight home win and fourth in the
last five overall took their tally to 32 points in 18 matches, two behind both
Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi. With just four matches to go, the title
race is set to go down to the wire. On the other hand, Aizawl missed the chance
to climb out of the relegation zone. The Reds remained in 11th place with 16
points, one behind SC Bengaluru.
Senegalese Karim Samb put the Snow Leopards ahead before
Lalrinzuala equalised for Aizawl with his ninth goal of the season. Brazilian
Paulo Cezar, on as a substitute, scored the winning goal for the hosts, who
also saved a penalty late on to grab all three points.
It was an end-to-end start with both goalkeepers making some
routine saves in the early minutes. Gradually, Real Kashmir began to boss
possession and took the game to the visitors. In the 21st minute, Aizawl almost
scored an own goal as Samuel Lalmuanpuia, intending to clear an Ocran Idan
corner, flicked a header that went just wide of the far post.
The breakthrough for the hosts arrived through a defensive
mix-up from Aizawl in the 31st minute. Karim Samb capitalised on it, burst into
the box and slotted it past Md Rafique Ali Sardar to score his fifth goal of
the season.
The Reds' high defensive line meant that Real Kashmir tried
to play long balls over the top for players on the wings to latch on to. In the
37th minute, right-back Shahid Nazir got on the end of one such delivery and
entered the box from the right, but the angle was narrow and his shot went
straight at Sardar, who parried it out.
Soon, Nazir was on his usual defensive duties. Lalrinzuala
pumped in a low cross into the six-yard box that he hacked clear before
Lalbiakdika could arrive. However, in the process, Nazir suffered an injury and
had to be replaced by Basit Ahmed Bhat at half-time.
Aizawl began the second half better and were deserving of
the equaliser in the 58th minute despite it coming due to a goalkeeping error.
Laltlanzova cut inside from the left but shot directly at Mohd Arbaz. What
should’ve been a routine save was spilled by the Real Kashmir custodian and
Lalrinzuala, the top Indian scorer of the I-League, was on hand to tap it in
from two yards out and restore parity.
The contest became more equal after that and both teams came
close to scoring again but were let down by poor finishing. For Real Kashmir,
Mohammad Inam crossed for substitute Paulo Cézar, who headed it agonisingly
wide from six yards. At the other end, Lalrinzuala cut it back for an unmarked
Lalbiakdia inside the box, but he skied his first-time shot.
Eventually, Paulo Cezar did find the net in the 77th minute
and it proved to be the match winner. Basit squared a low cross into the
six-yard box and the Brazilian evaded his marker to convert from point-blank
range, making it 2-1.
However, there would be a last twist in the tale just five
minutes later. When left-back Mohd Aqib handled an aerial cross inside the box,
referee Crystal John pointed to the penalty spot right away. Up stepped
Lalrinzuala, looking to take his season’s tally to double digits. He went down
the middle, and Arbaz, who had dived to his left, was able to save the penalty
with his trailing foot. The 19-year-old erupted in fervent celebrations,
amplified by the feeling of redemption after his earlier error had cost a goal.
