Aizawl: Defending champions Aizawl FC handed table-toppers Minerva Punjab their first loss of the season defeating them 2-1 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Wednesday.
Ending goalless at the end of the first-half, the game sparked to life on the second when Kareem Nurain and Andrei Ionescu put the home team ahead late into the game in the space of 13 minutes. Girik Khosla pulled one back in the extra-time but could not inspire his team to glory as the ‘Warriors’ succumbed to their first defeat in five matches.
Aizawl, who faced defeat against Lajong in the first North-eastern derby of the season looked desperate for a win and started with an attacking intent moving the ball around freely around the park.
Using the right flank to build most of their attacks, they nearly went ahead in the 16th minute when Minerva goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar fumbled to clear a Masih Saighani header that fell for Dodoz. The custodian however soon made amends collecting the ball from Dodoz, who was slow to react.
Saighani continued to trouble the ‘Warriors’ defence with another powerful header that was kept out by a flying Dagar. The Afghan defender for all his persistence did find the net that however was cancelled out for offiside as both sides went into the break, completely dominated by the Reds.
Resuming from the break it was the same story with star men Chencho Gyeltshen forced to drop deep more than often as the reigning champions blocked all gates, for the ball to pass through.
Always nervous during set-pieces, Minerva soon conceded one when Nurain headed in a Dodoz corner into the goal in the 72nd minute.
13 minutes later Aizawl added a second with Dodoz once again at the centre of things. Ionescu made a swift run from the left to find the Ivory-Coast playmaker, who beat one defender before returning it back to the Romanian, to slot it past a hapless Dagar.
Tasting defeat coach Khogen made some attacking substitutions, with one substitute Girik Khosla scoring a late consolation goal from a Aizwal defensive lapse.
The win not only ended Minerva’s winning streak of four games but also propelled Aizawl to the sixth position with seven points from four outings.
Both Aizawl and Minerva Punjab next face debutants Gokulam FC on December 31st and January 6 respectively.