I-League: Aizawl edges out Mumbai FC

Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani was beaten just once in the match, with Aizawl's Syrian midfielder Mahmoud Al Amna slotting the ball home in the the 79th minute as the visiting team earned a hard-fought 1-0 win on Sunday.

With its third victory in four games, Aizawl moves into third in the I-League standings.

Aizawl FC banked on pacy attacks and swift breaks to put pressure on home team Mumbai FC at every opportunity. Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani was beaten just once in the match, with Aizawl's Syrian midfielder Mahmoud Al Amna slotting the ball home in the the 79th minute as the visiting team earned a hard-fought 1-0 win on Sunday.

Mahmoud darted into space between defenders and fired home a pass from Lalruatthara for the match-winner, after the latter had done well to take the ball upto the touchline beyond the left post and pull the ball back for his teammate to finish the move in style. Kattimani under the MFC bar dealt with other threats. The home team lacked a finisher and paid the price with a defeat on home turf at the Cooperage ground.

Aizawl had missed two chances in the first half, both created by Albert Z on the right flank. He passed the ball across the goalmouth but did not find any teammate in position to tap in. The second time he crossed, the MFC goalkeeper was up to the challenge. Ivory Coast striker Stephane Bayikamo chased a pass from the right and slid along the turf with a foot stretched out, but he too couldn't find the net.

Head coach Khalid Jamil, last season with MFC, has guided the visitor into third place after third win in four games. MFC chief coach Santosh Kashyap pushed in Steven Dias and Trinidad striker Densil Theobald later in the second half, but the quest for the equaliser proved elusive, despite spirited first-half efforts when Aizawl survived repeated raids down both flanks.