GUWAHATI, Jan 6 � Aizawl Football Club was too hot to handle for Aryan Club in the first semifinal of the 62nd Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy Football Tournament as the Kolkata outfit was tamed 1-3 at the Nehru Stadium here today.
Aryan Club was no match to the fast moving Mizoram boys and conceded one goal before the break. In the second session, the Aizawl team pumped in two more goals against conceding one. But the margin could have been much bigger had the winning team not missed some easy sitters. C Zothansanga drew first blood in the 33rd minute to put the Aizawl team ahead. After a move initiated down the left flank by Malsawmfela, Rohningthanga set the ball for Zothansanga, who nodded it into the goal with a sharp header.
The Aizawl team made a spirited start after the break and virtually shattered the Aryan defence with some fast- moving moves. In the 51st minute they went 2-0 ahead when Malsawmfela converted a spot kick. The well-built striker was brought down by Aryan defender Trithankar Ghosh inside the box and referee Dwijen Sarma awarded a spot kick to the Aizawl team.
However, Aryan midfielder Akil Molla reduced the margin in the 63rd minute with a soft goal. His shot from 35 yards beat inattentive Mizoram custodian MS Dawngliana at the first post.
Stung by the reverse, the Mizo players romped into attack mode and created a series of openings in the later part of the match. B Zoramthara enhanced the lead in the 75th minute off a combined move created by Zothansanga and Malsawmfela. The goal virtually sealed the fate of the match.
For Aryan, Pintu Singh, Lob Mandal and Sayan Dutta made some valiant effort to score goals but their shots were not accurate enough which could beat the Mizoram goalkeeper. The Mizoram frontliners were too fast and beat the Kolkata defenders with their speed and one touch passes. Midfielder Rohningthanga was the livewire of the Mizo team who controlled the middle third and fed his attackers quite frequently.
Today�s match (S/F): Shillong Lajong vs Bhawanipore.
