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I-League: Aizawl FC make history by clinching maiden I-league title

Two big games of Indian football

I-League: Aizawl FC make history by clinching maiden I-league title
I-League | Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC and Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

A home win and a loss for Aizawl away to Shillong Lajong- that's what every Mariner is praying for now.  Mohun Bagan and their hordes of supporters across the globe would want just that on Sunday when their side take on Chennai City FC in a last round I-League encounter at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium on Sunday.

Mohun Bagan (33) are placed second in the points table, three points behind Aizawl (36) who are top of the heap. If they emerge victorious against Chennai and Aizawl succumb to a defeat at Shillong, Sanjoy Sen's green and maroon brigade will be crowned champions on a better goal difference. 

A draw will be enough for Khalid Jamil-coached Aizawl to script history and become winners of the league for the first time. The Mariners beat Aizawl at home 3-2 but lost to them away 0-1 thus taking their head-to-head advantage out of the equation. On the goal difference count, Mohun Bagan are ahead by four goals than Aizawl.

"Our aim is to win and end the league on a high. I am not thinking about what will happen there (in Shillong)," Mohun Bagan coach Sen told reporters on the eve of the game. "The so-called not so big teams like Minerva and Chennai have given so much pain to other teams. Mohun Bagan have struggled more against them away or home. So I have told the boys to be extra cautious against these teams," Sen added.

Chennai coach V Soundararajan said it's a great opportunity for his one-year old side who are dwelling near the foot of the league table to play against a side like Mohun Bagan. "Mohun Bagan is one of the best clubs in India. It is a great opportunity for us to play against Mohun Bagan. We will go all out. Echezona Anyichie is ruled out."

Brazilian Charles will be the only foreigner in the starting XI on Sunday as Marcos Tank won't be available. Chennai are eighth in the table having 17 points. They lost 1-6 to Churchill Brothers in their last game. "We did not have Eche so it was a big blow for us", the coach said. Echezona was sent off in the 61st minute for a second yellow. 

LIVE Blog
30 Apr 2017
09:21 PM

It was my pleasure bringing you the live proceedings from both the match. If you are an Aizawl Fan, congratulations for creating history and if you belong to the maroon and green camp, my heart goes out to you. The Federation Cup is just round the corner and there is every chance that Mohun Bagan can win that title. This is Soham Mukherjee, signing off for today. Good Night!!

09:16 PM

HISTORY HAS BEEN CREATED!!! AIZAWL FC WINS THE I-LEAGUE!!! kHALID JAMIL'S BOYS HAVE ACHIEVED THE IMPOSSIBLE.

They become the first team from the North-East to clinch the I-League.

Katsumi Yusa is asking the Lajong score? Duffy confirms that it remains 1-1 in Meghalaya. 

Crazy scenes in North East. The players are taking the victory lap. The Aizawl crowd is revelling away. 2000 fans have travelled to Meghalaya for the match and they have already invaded the pitch.

09:05 PM

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

Aizawl is protecting the ball in the corners.

How can he miss that? Dicka fails to pierce the net with no goal-keeper to beat. 

08:59 PM

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

RED CARD Debjit Majumdar 

Too harsh on the young goal-keeper. Should have been a yellow. He caught the ball just outside the penalty box, to shield it from the striker. 

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

Nerve wrecking 10 minutes for Aizawl. They just need to hold on to the score-line. Suddenly, they have gone into their defensive cocoon and Lajong is flapping its wings.

08:51 PM

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

GOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Daryl Duffy scores it for Bagan!! He celebrates it wildly. But not much enthusiasm among the crowd. They know that Aizawl have equalised. 

08:45 PM

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

Brilliant save from Karanjit!!! He has kept Chennai in the match with a string of saves!!! That one was hit hard by Balwant. Parried away with both hands.

08:41 PM

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

​GOOOOAAAAAAALLLL!!! Aizwal scores!! William Lalnunfela ​

Aizawl find the equaliser. Just 20 minutes from being crowned I-League champions.

08:34 PM

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

Dary Duffy has a cut on his fore-head. It's bleeding. He is receiving treatment on the field.

08:29 PM

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC 

Kamo is once again causing problems to Lajong defense. He is crossing in dangerously, Jayesh Rana is making the runs, they just need the goal-scoring touch.

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

Mohun Bagan is playing like a radar-less ship. They need to bring out something from the hat. 

08:21 PM

Both games kicking off relatively at the same time. 

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

Mohun Bagan once again dominating position. But they lack the killer instinct. Chennai is happy to park the bus.

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC 

A much livelier encounter is taking place at the hills. End to end stuff here. If things stand like this for the next 40 minutes, Aizawl will walk away with the championship.

08:06 PM

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

45' GOALLLLLLL!!! Mohun Bagan pull back one!!! Katsumi Yusa has sent the crowd to a frenzy. A volley from the Japanese pierces the net. 

07:59 PM

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

​Kamo is having a wonderful game. His passing has been incisive, and his runs down the Lajong defence has sent shivers in the back line. 

 

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

Nothing inspirational from the Haitian, Sony Norde. He must step-up his game to get the equaliser. 

07:55 PM

Mohun Bagan v/s Chennai City FC

The maroon and green are piling on the pressure, but they lack imagination and creativity at the final third. They are putting in everything, but cannot make a decisive final ball. 

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

A mid-field battle is going on, and Lajong is doing everything to spoil Aizawl's party.

07:51 PM

31' Mohun Bagan concede. Pin drop silence at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. Chennai score against the run of play. Pritam Kotal does not even chase the ball. Pathetic football from Mohun Bagan.

07:49 PM

The two big games have kicked off and Mariners all around are not all watching their match against Chennai City FC but are also keeping a close watch on the match going on in Meghalaya.

Shillong Lajong v/s Aizawl City FC

9' Goal Asier Pierrick Dipanda Dicka

Brilliant football from Shillong Lajong. Two cities are celebrating the goal. Some quick passing between Samuel and Redeem and an inch perfect cross on the head of Dicka, who does not fail to convert it.

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