GUWAHATI, Jan 2 � With a clear 2-0 goal margin victory against former champions Oil India Limited (OIL) Football Club, Aizawl Football Club sailed into the semifinals of the 62nd Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy Football Tournament.
In the first quarterfinal of the championship at the Nehru Stadium here today, the Aizawl team was leading 1-0 at the breather and added one more after the break.
B Zoramthara put the winning team ahead in the 29th minute while Malsawmfela completed the tally in the 83rd minute.
The Mizoram team was distinctly the dominating side with more ball possession. The nimble footed Mizo players were fast and accurate in exchanging the ball and they overpowered the OIL players in all the departments.
Their frontliners � Zirsangzela, Malsawmfela, B Zoramthara and C Zothansanga � gave a tough time to the OIL defenders throughout the course with well planned moves and accurate passes. Their defenders, led by Nigerian Emmanuel Chigozie, also maintained a good balance and hardly allowed the OIL strikers to cruise through to their striking zone.
For OIL, F Wary, Manas Manjit Chetia, Mintu Boro, supported by medio HL Routa and Zaidin Hmar tried to build some moves. But they miserably failed to break the Aizawl defence as their final passes were below par.
Anticipating a pass from R Lalnundanga, C Zothansanga sent a floater into the box and Zoramthara beautifully sent the ball home with a diving header (1-0).
After the break, defender Emmanual set the ball for unmarked Malsawmfela at the left flank who easily beat OIL custodian Nitesh Murthy with a gentle push after dribbling atleast 40 yards (2-0). It was total lapse on part of the OIL defence as they unsuccessfully tried to trap Malsawmfela offside.
The only positive scoring opportunity came for the OIL strikers in the 72nd minute but Manas failed to head home from a close range.
Today�s match: (Q/F) Aryanas Club, Kolkata vs Green Valley.
