Aizawl FC notched up their first win of I-League football as they beat DSK Shivajians of Pune 2-0 in a clash of debutants here today.
Alfred Jaryan (18th minute) and Yuta Kinowaki (45th) scored for Aizawl to snap their two-match losing streak. They had lost 1-3 to defending champions Mohun Bagan in their campaign opener before being beaten 0-1 by Bengaluru FC in their second match.
The match began in an intense note as tackles started flying inside the first minute. The first real chance of the match fell to DSK Shivajians, when Indrajit Chougale broke free in the fifth minute from the left flank and curled in a delightful cross, but Asier Pierric Dipanda failed to connect with the ball.
In the 10th minute, Haroon Amiri took a direct free kick from the wing, which caught the Aizawl FC goalkeeper Zothanmawia off-guard. However, the keeper made amends by diving down to block the shot.
Aizawl FC broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when the ball fell to Alfred Jaryan as defenders tried to clear it. Jaryan took his time to place the ball at the back of the net to the celebration of home supporters.
Aizawl FC soon started keeping more of the ball and in the 38th minute, DSK goal-keeper Subrata Paul denied David Lalrinmuana with a diving save to keep the score at 1-0.
Moments before the first half, Paul made back-to-back reflex saves to keep Aizawl FC's lead in check. However, a rebound from one such save fell to Yuta Kinowaki, who fired it home to give Aizawl FC a 2-0 lead at the breather.
The second half began slowly with both teams trying hard to keep the ball for extended period.
Aizawl FC piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the match while DSK Shivajians tried to hit the home team on the counter.
Subrata Paul stepped up to make two magnificent saves at the dying minutes to keep the score at 2-0 in favour of Aizawl.
