Kolkata: The first day of the Round 9 of the I-league saw a triple header with the top two sides in the table Real Kashmir and RoundGlass Punjab FC sharing spoils. Meanwhile former champions Aizawl FC got the better of Kolkata giants Mohamedan Sporting beating them 3-0. Churchill Brothers booked top spot defeating Chennai City 2-1 in the other match of the evening.
Aizawl came with high hopes at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata on Thursday (February 18) to close the gap between in the points table. Malsawmtluanga opened the scoring for Aizawl in the 16th minute with a gem of a free-kick before Lalremsanga Fanai and Lalliansanga fired a couple of goals in the second half.
Mohammedan looked a bit off-color this season and that was evident in today’s game too. Although the Kolkata giants did their best in pushing hard it wasn’t enough for them. Aizawl took full-three points to stand at fourth.
Real Kashmir squared off with RG Punjab FC in a top-of-the-table clash in the second match of the afternoon at the Kalyani Stadium. The visitors, despite dominating the ball possession were unable to finish off the chances. Kashmir were a bit scratchy as well in the first phase of the game.
Joseba Beitia converted his spot-kick to put the visitors ahead in the 66th minute before Asier Pierrick Dipanda Dicka shortly after that, equalised for Kashmir after Mason Robertson squared one for him inside the box. Both the sides at the end shared points with either of them can steal snatch the title.
Churchill brothers snatched three points from the grasp of Chennai City after a goal in the added time by Luka Majcen at the Kalyani Stadium in the evening. Churchill’s Slovenian no.9 added another before that in the 49th minute after both the side saw a goalless first half.
Chennai got one back in the 64th minute through a penalty by defender Elvedin Škrijelj. It looked like Churchill would have to satisfied with just a few points as the home side kept it tight enough at the back. However, Clayvin Zuniga in the added minutes dinked one into the box for Majcen who headed it home to clinch the win helping his side to sit at the top of the tree.
