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Players of Aizawl FC (red) and HAL FC vie for the ball at JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur, on Thursday. (Bhola Prasad)
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Aizawl FC might not have made it to the Federation Cup but they definitely left with their heads high on Thursday, finishing their campaign for qualification with a 5-1 win over Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.
The Mizoram outfit, which was drubbed 6-1 in the tournament’s opening game, chose to give a sneak peek of their skills with the ball on Thursday. And while they were at it they left some 600 spectators, who had turned up to witness the match at JRD, breathless. The team not only read, but also adjusted to the soggy pitch so well that HAL was left to play a catch-up game.
It was a bad day for HAL on the field. For one they had no answers to striker K. Lalrintluanga’s dribbles as he got going to score a brace for his team. The swift-footed player led from the front, dodging the defenders to make forays in the opponents territory.
However, it was Michael Lalramruata who found the back of the net first with a solid left-footer in the 22nd minute to give his team the lead.
However, the HAL equalised within three minutes with a R.C. Prakash flick beating the Aizawl goalkeeper inside the box
Unlike their outing, the Aizawl team, did not panic and came back strongly with swift passes and long rangers. They refused to go into their defensive shells and instead stepped up their game. Hence, it was only a matter of time before Lalrintluanga won the lead back in the 29th minute with a sliding shot, which rocketed past HAL’s goalkeeper Amar Deb. The Aizawl team confidently went in for the lemon break with a 2-1 lead.
There was no looking back after that in the second half with the Mizoram outfit stepping up the pressure. Johny Lalfakzuala stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 58th minute converting a cross.
Lalrintluanga put his name on the sheet for the second time in the 65th minute before Francis Zonuntluange put the last nail in coffin in the 87th minute.
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