Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Chennai City FC restored their lead at the top of the 12th Hero I-League table, outplaying Shillong Lajong 6-1 at the Nehru Stadium in Coimbatore on Saturday evening, courtesy a Pedro Manzi hattrick, his second of the season.

In a free-flowing and entertaining encounter, it was yet again an all-Spanish scorers list for the home side with Nestor Jesus netting a brace and defender Roberto Eslava getting his second of the season, besides Hero of the Match Manzi’s three goals. Shillong’s only goal was scored by captain Samuel Lalmuanpuia from a stunner of a free-kick.

With this win, Chennai move to the top of the table with 21 points from all 10 first round games played. Neroca of Manipur are now second with 18 points from the same number of games.

Shillong remain at the bottom of the table, suffering their eighth loss from 10 games and have just four points.

The first half saw Chennai go two goals up with Nestor opening the scoring on the 12th minute from a smartly-crafted free-kick into the box by Sandro Rodriguez. Nestor’s snap-shot hit the underside of the bar and crossed the line, which was rightly judged by the linesman.

Manzi then missed a couple of golden chances to score with one hitting the post on the 32nd minute before an unchallenged Roberto Eslava doubled the lead on the 38th from a powerful header off a Sandro Rodriguez corner. This was his second goal of the 12th Hero I-League.

Manzi got his first of the game four minutes into the second half when Shillong captain Samuel Lalmuanpuia lost the ball inside his half to Edwin Vanspaul, who found Manzi with a beautiful ball. The Spaniard slid through two defenders into the box and neatly chipped it past Lachempa. It was also Edwin’s first of three assists on the day.

The Lajong captain made amends four minutes later with a cracker of a free-kick from about 30 yards out. His booming drive beat Chennai keeper Santana for pace and power to pull one back for the visitors.

Chennai then scored three in the space of 11 minutes to put the issue decisively beyond the young visitors.

Nestor Jesus first latched onto a clever ball played on by Manzi for him inside the box and the former made no mistake with a left-footed strike for his sixth goal of the campaign.

On the 78th minute, Edwin found Manzi inside the box with a lovely chip, which the Spaniard brought down with his thigh and volleyed on the turn to beat Lachempa all ends up.

Two minutes later, Edwin played a part in yet another goal, when he was brought down inside the box and Manzi converted the penalty. Though Lachempa guessed right and even got a hand to it, he could not keep it from crossing the line.

To Shillong’s credit, they never stopped attacking and Sheen, on the 76th minute, missed a one-on-one with the keeper after a wonderful build-up, hitting straight at Santana in the Chennai goal. Kitbok on the follow up also hit the side-netting.

Pedro Manzi now has seven goals in the 12th Hero I-League and is just one behind top scorer Willis Plaza of Churchill Brothers. The four Spaniards have now scored 18 of Chennai’s 22 goals so far.

(I-League Media)

Aizawl, Mizoram: Aizawl FC huffed and puffed, but they finally got over the line with all three points in the 12th Hero I-League match against Gokulam Kerala FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in the Mizoram Capital, on Saturday, 29 December 2018.

Ansumana Kormah opened the scoring on the 51st minute, before Mapuia and Rochhar Zela added two more on the 63rd and 70th. Gokulam mounted a late surge deep in added time, when Joel Sunday scored two in the last two minutes of injury time, one from open play, and the other from the penalty spot. However, it was too little, too late for the visitors.

Aizawl FC gaffer Gift Raikhan made five changes to his starting XI from the match against Indian Arrows. As Lalhriatrenga, Vanlalduata, Paul Ramfangzaua, Lalramhmunmawia and Lalrinfela Fanaia made way for Rochharzela and Govin Singh and the new trio of Lalrinchhana, Lalrosanga, Vanlalthanga.

Gokulam head coach Bino George also made attacking changes as Pritam Singh, Mudde Musa, Jayaraj and Suhair replaced Mirza, J. Balakrishnan, Christian Sabah and Joel Sunday from their defeat against Indian Arrows.

With both teams winless in their last three games, both the coaches took a cautious approach to the game with few chances for both sets of players. The home side carved out the first goal-scoring chance of the match; Chhara from the right flank sent in a delightful cross but Mapuia could not guide the ball towards goal as his header flew just wide of the post.

Gokulam found it hard to stamp their authority in the match as Raikhan’s boys pressed high. Left-back Vanlalthanga, who was playing his first match in the Hero I-League had a thunderous shot from 35 yards out but was unlucky as Kunniyal parried it above the crossbar.

Bino George tried to influence his player form the touchline as the Kerala side attacked from the left wing with Jayaraj proving a handful for the new boy Lalrosanga. Musa and Suhair VP linked well for the away side but could not test Aizawl goalkeeper Lalawmpuia.

Liberian forward Kromah had the best chance in the first half; Chhara bamboozled Gokulam left-back Dimple Bhagat and sent a low cross to Kromah, who was free in the six-yard box, the striker could not connect his shot as it was easily cleared by the Gokulam defenders.

Bino Geroge made a tactical substitution at the start of the second half, putting forward Rajesh in place of midfielder Rashid. The Kerala attacker could hardly settle when Aizawl scored the first goal in the 51st minute through Ansumana Kromah. Left-back Vanlalthanga’s non-sense clearance was not dealt with by the Gokulam defenders as Kromah slipped from the defenders to coolly slot the ball in the back of the net.

The new boys of Aizawl played a crucial role as the second goal was assisted by Rinchhana. The diminutive midfielder’s defence-splitting pass to Mapuia was converted calmly by the striker, who had a few sticks from the fans before his goal.

Bino’s team could not find a way against the former champions as Alfred anchored the midfield, leaving room new boy Rinchhana to play freely. Aizawl ran riot against the Kerala side as Chhara scored his first and the third goal of the match in the 70th minute. The 5”5’ winger from the Aizawl academy toyed with Gokulam defenders before he put the ball past Kunniyil.

Aizawl fans had started to leave the stadium to beat the traffic when Gokulam had a late upsurge, scoring two goals in added time. Joel Sunday redeemed himself as he scored in the 93rd minute after missing a golden chance for his side a minute prior to his first goal.

Aizawl defenders were left scratching their heads when Hmingthanmawia was flagged hand-ball in the dying minute of the game, referee Raktim Saha pointed to the spot. Joel Sunday stepped up, to take a few stuttering steps before he sent Lalawmpuia the wrong side of the goal. Gokulam’s hopes to score their equalising goal was halted when the referee blew the final whistle seconds after Sunday’s second goal.

Aizawl have now garnered nine points from 10 matches, leapfrogging the young Indian Arrows side to place themselves ninth on the table. Gokulam are now winless in their last four matches, collecting 10 points from as many games. Bino George would have to conjure all his tactical nuances in their upcoming game against the high flying Chennai City if they are to collect three points in the South Indian Derby.

(I-League Media)

Kolkata, West Bengal: Jobby Justin’s sixth goal of the 12th Hero I-League campaign was not enough to stop debutants Real Kashmir FC from taking a point at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on Friday. QEB players scored both the goals of the match with defender Lalramchullova accounting for an unfortunate own-goal.

With this result, Real Kashmir drew level on points (18) with Neroca FC and Chennai City at the top of the table. However, Neroca FC are on the top of the table by dint of the head-to-head record, followed by Chennai City and Real Kashmir.

Both coaches, David Roberston of Kashmir and Alejandro Garcia of QEB, made one change to their starting line-up from their previous games. Kashmir brought in Zambian Aaron Katebe to play in defence in place of Muhammad Hammad while Samad Ali Mallick quite ironically made way for Chullova to regain his place.

Kashmir’s Ghanaian striker Abednego Kofi Tetteh, who scored in their last game, got the first good chance of an otherwise tepid first half in the 29th minute when a loose ball fell to him inside the QEB box but his shot was brilliantly parried over by Rakshit Dagar.

QEB came back immediately with a chance of their own after a wonderful build-up involving Jamie Santos, Lalrindika ‘Didika’ Ralte and finally Laldanmawia Ralte, created a chance for Brandon inside the Kashmir six-yard box but Loveday’s crucial touch ensured that the ball eluded him.

On the 42nd minute, Surchandra Singh found himself in the clear inside the box on the right, but Rakshit brought off another good save to thwart his powerful strike.

Kashmir went into the lead almost immediately in the second half. Kofi found a brilliant Surchandra run into the box on the right, who put in a regulation cross. Lalramchullova rushing back to cover, tried to clear but miss-kicked into his own goal.

QEB came back into the game on the 56th minute.

Off a Didika corner from the right flank, Frenchman Kassim Aidara rose first to head towards goal but the ball ricocheted back off the Kashmir defence but only as far as a lurking Jobby Justin close to goal.

The Kerala striker made no mistake as he thudded the ball into the roof of the net for his sixth goal of the league.

The game petered out after that, save two chances for QEB’s Spanish forward Jamie Santos Colado. In the first, he chested the ball down beautifully just outside the Kashmir box and unleashed a shot on the turn, but it was just off target.

Just minutes before the game ended, he connected with a sharp header to a wonderful cross from the right from Brandon, for Bilal in the Kashmir goal to bring about an important save.

(I-League Media)

Imphal, Manipur: NEROCA FC notched up two goals to earn a victory against Kolkata giants and former champions Mohun Bagan, in an entertaining 12th Hero I-League encounter at Imphal’s Khuman Lampak stadium on Friday.

Brazilian defender Eduardo opened the scoring for the home side in the first half before Bagan’s Ugandan striker Henry Kisekka brought them back into the game in the second half. But minutes later, Australian midfielder Aryn Williams deflected one into the Bagan net to secure three points for the hosts.

The result takes Neroca (18 points from 10 games) to the top of the table for now, despite the fact that both Chennai City and Real Kashmir are tied on the same number of points with them. The Manipuri side is ahead of the other two by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty made two changes to his starting XI from the previous game, giving the nod to Mumbai man Darren Caldiera in midfield for the very first time in place of Sourav Das. Abhishek Ambekar was also replaced with Gurjinder Kumar in defence.

For the home team, Spanish coach Manuel Fraile made just the one change to bring in Tondomba Singh in a straight mid-field swap with Saran Singh.

Mohun Bagan began the game on the front foot with Egyptian midfielder Omar, trying to control proceedings from the midfield, but it was the home team which took the lead on the 24th minute of the game via a header from Eduardo.

Katsumi got his third assist of the league, when Eduardo drilled in a header from the near post past Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Sankar Roy, off a corner taken by the Japanese.

Neroca took their lead into the lemon break.

The second half saw more entertaining football with the hosts turning it on mainly through the inspiring efforts of their Japanese winger Katsumi, who initiated most attacking moves.

On the 60th minute, he played on Subhash Singh inside the box on the right, but his effort hit the side-netting.

Bagan then equalised through a brilliant Kisekka header on the 63rd minute. Darren Caldiera it was with the assist, floating in a high cross from the left flank from just outside the box.

Ugandan Kisekka climbed on top of his marker on the far post for a perfectly weighted header, which went across Lalit Thapa in the Neroca goal and into the net.

However, the home fans were then thrown into delirium in the 69th minute, when Neroca took the lead for the second time in the game from another corner.

The ball, this time, found its way to Subhash, who rifled in a grounder which was headed towards goal from the edge of the box. Australian Aryn Williams got a touch in the melee and deflected it into the Bagan net.

It did not deter the hosts though and Malem missed a golden opportunity to put the game out of Bagan’s grasp in the 78th minute when another wonderful lay-off from Katsumi saw him in the clear inside the box. His effort lobbed way over the goal with just Sankar to beat.

Omar then missed an equally gilt-edged chance to equalise through on the 80th minute. Dicka layed it off for him beautifully on top of the box. He had a clear sight at goal with the goalkeeper positioned right in the middle. His effort lacked both accuracy and direction as it sailed over.

The visitors kept trying and Dicka got an opportunity with a free header inside the box on the 85th minute, off an Omar free-kick, but failed to connect properly and it lobbed over the Neroca goal.

Manuele Fraile even took off Katsumi and Subhash in the closing stages of the game, but it was Neroca’s day. Eduardo was declared Hero of the Match.

(I-League Media)

Kolkata, West Bengal: Kolkata giants and former champions Mohun Bagan, displayed a thoroughly professional performance at home to notch up a victory against bottom placed Shillong Lajong, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on Sunday. Japanese midfielder Yuta Kinowaki opened the scoring for the home-team just two minutes into the second half and Ugandan front man Henry Kisekka added a second in the 60th minute to seal three points for the ‘Green and Maroon’ brigade.

With this first home win of the 12th Hero I-League season, Bagan move up to fifth on the table, level on points with third and fourth placed Quess East Bengal and Neroca FC respectively, two behind second placed Real Kashmir and three behind league leaders Chennai City FC.

Shillong remain in last position after suffering their seventh loss in nine games.

Mohun Bagan made one change in their lineup as Eze Kingsley came back in defence after serving his suspension, in place of Gurjinder Kumar. While Alison Kharsyntiew, the Shillong gaffer, made three changes to his previous starting eleven. Key among them being Purbha Lachempa back under the Shillong bar in place of Neithovilie Chalieu.

Mohun Bagan dominated the first half and had around nine shots at goal to two for the visitors but could not get the breakthrough.

Cameroonian striker Dipanda Dicka got the first clear cut chance of the half in the 16th minute, when he chested down a cross from the left and shot for goal but Purbha Lachempa in the Shillong goal brought about a brilliant save.

Apart from Dicka, Kiseeka and Egyptian midfielder Omar El Husseiny were also guilty of missing gilt-edged opportunities in the half.

Bagan took the lead immediately on commencement of the second half.

Two minutes into the half, Kisekka it was who started the build up from the left, passing to an overlapping Abhishek Ambekar further wide.

The diminutive left wing-back’s cross was cleared by the Shillong defence but only till the path of a lurking Yuta Kinowaki outside the box. The Japanese curled in a right-footer first time and it crashed into the back of the Lajong net, beating Lachempa all ends up this time.

It was a classy strike and Yuta’s first of the campaign.

Sankar Roy, the Bagan keeper, then brought about the save of the game six minutes late when a Samuel Lyngdoh effort from inside the box with the goalkeeper out of position and an empty net in front of him, was miraculously kept out by the Bagan keeper.

Bagan doubled their lead in the 60th minute through Henry Kisekka’s third of the campaign.

It was veteran midfielder Mehtab Hussain, who had come on in the first half for an injured Sourav Das, with the long ball into the box this time which was cleared by Lachempa.

Faiaz was first to the second ball and chested it down towards the path of Dicka on the left. Dicka took a goal bound strike but it deflected multiple times of the Shillong defence and eventually Kisekka muscled it into the Lajong net with his boot.

(I-League Media)

Imphal, Manipur: Champions Minerva Punjab FC and Manipur’s Neroca FC played out an exciting draw at the latter’s home in Imphal’s Khuman Lampak stadium, to deny both a chance to improve their league standings considerably. The home-side dominated both possession and chances created and even missed a penalty, but could not get past a solid Minerva defence.

The result meant that Neroca stayed at fourth place in the 12th Hero I-League standings with 15 points from nine games while Minerva moved up by one to be sixth after 10 games with 13 points to show.

The game maintained a high tempo throughout with both teams displaying an urgency to score. Neroca however outscored the visitors 64-36 in possession, 12-5 in shots taken, 11-2 in corners and 4-2 in the shots on target count and while the game deserved a goal, there were none on the day.

While the hosts had fielded an unchanged eleven, Minerva went for as many as seven changes, the crux of them being fielding nine Indian players and just two foreigners in William Opoku and Lancine Toure.

Neroca made their intentions clear from the beginning when in the 7th minute a Subhash cross from the left, fell to Katsumi inside the box and his effort went straight to keeper

Ghanaian William Opoku then broke away for Minerva in the 16th minute for his first of many chances in the game, and was close to goal but Eduardo came up with a timely challenge to deny him.

Neroca though dominated the half and the combination of Singham Singh and Katsumi Yusa in particular were looking very dangerous.

Minerva got the first golden opportunity after the break when a muffed up clearance, this time by Ashok Singh in the Neroca defence, fell invitingly for Prateek Joshi in front of goal. His left footed effort was admirably kicked to safety by a wrong-footed Lalit Thapa in the Neroca goal.

The hosts however began to take control again soon and forayed regularly into the box. Subhash, Sebastian and Katsumi from the left and Malem and an ever overlapping Ashok Singh from the right were creating havoc in the Minerva defence.

To top it all Australian defensive midfielder Aryn Williams’ interception and distribution was fantastic as has been the case in recent games.

Sustained pressure resulted in Manandeep being called out for handball inside the box and Chidi blew the resultant spot kick over the bar in the 77th minute of the game.

The combination of Subhash and Katsumi created one last chance in injury time but the latter’s shot from just outside the box went straight to Minerva keeper Bhaskar Roy.

(I-League Media)