10th Jiri Cup Invitation Football Tournament : LNPFC outplay 27 Assam Rifles
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 29 2014:
LNPFC, Mizoram outplayed 27 Assam Rifles, Kadamtala by a margin of two goals to nil in the quarter final league of the 10th Jiri Cup Invitation Football Tournament today.
The two goals to nil margin however did not reflect the real spirit of the game as both teams were evenly matched though it was the flair of the team from Mizoram which got the better of the well oiled machine like approach of the Assam Rifles team.
The game started on a tense note, each leaving no space to the other to initiate any dangerous move.
Evenly matched, man to man, both teams had their chances but could convert none of them, with the break taken with the two teams failing to break the deadlock.
In the second half, LNPFC, Mizoram adopted a different approach and to beat the height advantage of the Assam Rifles players began to rely more and more on short, crisp ground passes.
Putting more men on the attack, the team from Mizoram piled on the pressure and managed to find the gaps in the defence line of the Assam Rifles team.
The onslaughts continued and it finally paid dividends when Lalrela netted the first goal for his team in the 68th minute of the match.
The goal was a culmination of a fine run down the flank and a winger floated a precise pass at the top of the penalty box of the Assam Rifles team.
Lalrela was well placed to take possession of the ball and after sidestepping a couple of defenders, slotted the ball home.
The one goal lead did not lull the Mizoram players as they kept up the pressure, launching a series of attacks from either side of the flanks.
The Assam Rifles team on the other hand relied on long, aerial passes and counter attacks to neutralise the one goal lead but to no avail as the defence line of the team from Mizoram stood their ground and thwarted all attempts.
The second goal for the Mizoram team came against the run of play, when an unmarked Lalrawngdawla found space to rattle the net in the 83rd minute.