Aizawl FC beat DSK Shivajians for first I-League win

Alfred Jaryan and Yuta Kinowaki scored for Aizawl to snap their two-match losing streak. They had lost 1-3 to defending champions Mohun Bagan in their opening match, before being beaten 0-1 by Bengaluru FC in the second.

File photo of Alfred Jaryan (black and white jersey), who scored the opening goal for Aizawl FC.

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 opening match, before being beaten 0-1 by Bengaluru FC in the second.

Shivajians got the opportunity to score first in the fifth minute, when Indrajit Chougale broke free from the left flank and curled in a delightful cross to Asier Pierric Dipanda, who failed to connect 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 goalkeeper Subrata Paul denied David Lalrinmuana with a diving save to keep the score 1-0.

Moments before the first half, Paul made back-to-back 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.

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 but Subrata stepped up to make two magnificent saves to keep the score unchanged.