Aizawl FC suffered a jolt to their I-League title aspirations when they went down to defending champions Bengaluru FC (BFC) by a solitary goal in a crucial encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday.
Both teams had their chances but were let down by poor finishing. But just when it seemed that the points will be shared, BFC substitute Marjan Jugovic leapt higher than all to head in a perfect Sunil Chhetri free-kick taken from the edge of the penalty box.
Courtesy the result, Aizawl stayed at the top of the standings with 30 points from 15 matches. BFC moved to 21 points from 15 matches.
In the first half BFC were faster off the blocks and in the fourth minute a Chhetri header off a Cameron Watson corner hit the crosspiece. Even as the ball rebounded to Chhetri, Aizawl goalkeeper Albino Gomes managed to collect it.
Aizawl earned their first corner in the 10th minute but Jayesh Rane's floater didn't create any danger.
In the 18th minute, Rane snatched it from Chhetri and essayed it for Aizawl forward Bayi Kamo. But BFC defender John Johnson's timely interception thwarted it as Kamo was about to break free.
BFC came close in the 21st minute when Chhetri evaded Ashutosh Mehta's outstretched leg and laid it for Daniel Lalhlimpuia.
Daniel dodged past Lalthuammawia Ralte but failed to beat Albino with his prompt left-footer, the goalkepeer diving to his left to palm it away.
BFC were forced in to bring in their first substitution in the very next minute when the talented Alwyn George replaced an injured Udanta Singh.
Rane, in the meantime, was trying to gain control of the midfield, and two of his through passes almost did the trick for his team.
First, Landanmawia following a Rane pass found himself ruled off-side, and then Kamo tried to build on a Rane pass but the BFC defence was equal to the task.
Aizawl, by that time looked the more dominant of the two sides and BFC survived twice in a span of 30 seconds in the 44th minute.
First, Mehta's rasper rebounded off the post with a diving BFC custodian Amrinder Singh beaten and off the next attack, Rane's curler narrowly missed by a whisker as both teams headed to the interval locked goalless.
BFC brought in their first substitution in the 60th minute when Marjan Jugovic replaced Eugeneson Lyngdoh. The Serbian was flashed the yellow card two minutes later for a rough tackle.
BFC couldn't make the most of a promising counter-attack when Chhetri, who was often falling back to help his defence, snatched the ball in front of his penalty box, made a speedy run and passed it to Jogovic.
But the 33-year-old Serbian mispassed the ball, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Chhetri's class was evident once again when he played a one-two with Juan Fernandez and entered the Aizawl penalty box, but Albino was able to cut down the angle forcing Chhetri to shot directly at him.
The best, however, was reserved for the last when Jugovic and Chhetri combined to break Aizawl hearts.
--IANS
ajb/dg
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