Bazie Armand scored the winner as debutant Real Kashmir continued its impressive run in the 12th edition of the Hero I-League, by beating Aizawl FC 1-0 here on Wednesday.
The Ivorian midfielder struck at the half-hour mark to help the host register its third win and lift it to fourth in the league standings with 10 points from six games. Aizawl, with five points from seven games is places at ninth.
The host made its intention clear from the outset as the Ivorian striker Krizo took a snapshot in the opening minutes but Gurpreet, the Aizawl keeper was equal to the task. Then Surchandra Singh coming in from the right flank made a good first-time connection to a Nagem Tamang cross in the eighth minute but hit the side-netting.
Aizawl had a chance in the 25th minute when Albert’s cross from the right forced a tip-over by Bilal the Kashmir keeper, but the ball bounced off the bar and came back to Liberian striker Ansumanah Kromah, who despite being a bit out of position, managed a side-flick which lobbed over the goal.
Kashmir FC then went ahead in the half-hour mark off a set-piece. Surchandra Singh's assist by delivering a wonderful corner from the left to which Bazie rose above the Aizawl defence to direct his header into the far corner. This was the Ivorian’s second goal in this edition of the tournament.
Aizawl got the first chance of the second half when Albert was set-up for a free-header by Lalrinfela, who delivered a wonderful cross from inside the box on the left, but his goal-bound header bounced off Mason Robertson in the Kashmir defence.
For the host, it was Krizo who got the best chances of the half and two free-headers, one at the quarter of an hour mark off a cross from Kofi and another in the 82nd minute off a free-kick, missed their marks.
Coach Gift Raikhan played all his cards and even brought on Kyrgistani midfielder Bektur Talgat in place of David Lalrinmuana in the 73rd minute, but it was not enough.
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