Real Kashmir FC continued the winning momentum as they beat former champions Aizawl FC in another home affair of I-League at TRC Turf ground here on Wednesday.
On a December chilly day with almost full capacity stadium filled with excited fans, Real Kashmir went on to register their second consecutive home win as Bazie Armand first half strike proved enough for them to beat Aizawl FC 1-0. The win pushed the I-League debutants to fourth place on points table with 10 points from six games. In the match Real Kashmir went with one change, giving the new recruit Ghanaian Abednego Kofi Teteh a start. They put him with Ivorian striker Krizo upfront to make their intentions clear. Aizawl replaced Joe Zoherliana in defence by Nigerian Kareem Nurain.
Playing another striker upfront was clear indication that Real Kashmir is for the win and to score goals. That was visible in very first minute of the game as Krizo took a shot at Aizawl post but Aizawl keeper Gurpreet, was equal to the task. Minutes later Surchandra Singh coming in from the right flank made a good first-time connection to a NagemTamang cross in the eighth minute but hit the side-netting.
Despite under a lot of pressure both and in outside the field from the cheering crowd who were backing home side, Aizawl had a chance of their own in the 25th minute. Real Kashmir, keeper Bilal, failed to clear Albert’s cross from the right forced properly and Liberian striker AnsumanahKromah almost scored for the visitors. The ball just flicked over the goal post.
In the meantime, home side scored the all important goal in the 30th minute. Surchandra Singh, delivered a wonderful corner from the left to which Bazie rose above the Aizawldefence to direct his header into Aizawl goal post. This was the Bazie’s second goal in this year’s I-League. At half time Real was leading by 1-0.
In second half, visitors showed the surge and tried desperately to score equalizer. They mounted on a couple of coordinated attacks. Once such attack was in initial minutes of second half, as 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.
The Real Kashmir defense lead by Mason and skipper Loveday once again showed why they are number one in defense in entire league. They have the most clean sheets and have conceded least number of goals so far. Withstanding pressure from the Aizawl, Real Kashmir didn’t crumble and held onto thwart the attack after attack. In the meantime 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.
The last 20 minutes of the game all belonged to Aizawl attackers and the Real Kashmir defense. Though there were a couple of chances that sneaked in Real Kashmir way but overall in closing minutes of game hosts were under tremendous pressure from visitors who desperately wanted to score equalizer. However, hosts held on to register their second consecutive win on home soil after having defeated Indian Arrows in last game by 2-0.
Ivorian midfielder BazieArmand , the man who scored all important goal was again chosen man of the match. It was his second straight man of the match. Overall it is third win in league for debutants Real Kashmir, pushing them to fourth in the league standings with 10 points from six games. Aizawl remain on ninth place with five points from seven games.