KOLKATA: After their resounding win in their last game away to Shillong Lajong,
Aizawl FC
will look to continue their good run when they face off against
Gokulam Kerala
at home in Aizawl on Saturday afternoon.
The former champions haven’t seen many good days over the past few seasons since they won the tournament in 2016-17, but this time around they have been on a roll winning five of their nine matches and are placed third on the table with 17 points.
They have scored as many as 20 goals — only two less than Sreenidhi Deccan’s 22 — and are on a five-match unbeaten run.
Although they have seen their head coach Erol Akbay leave after the first match against Mohammedan SC, assistant head coach B Malsawmzuala has done an incredible job leading the team into the top three.
Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia has been one of the stars of Aizawl’s incredible run having scored nine goals including a hat-trick against NEROCA FC and is the joint top-scorer of the tournament along with Kerala’s Alejandro Sanchez Lopez.
Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Malsawmzuala sounded relaxed and wanted the team to just give their best. “In
football
win, loss and draw is a part of football. But whatever the result, we always give our best. This time we have a big chance to be the
I-league
champions. Our strength is the support of the fans and prayers of the Mizo people,” said Malsawmzuala.
However, he is not taking his Saturday’s opponents lightly and is well aware of the challenge that Gokulam Kerala will bring.
“Gokulam Kerala are one of the best teams in I-league this season and they have many good players, some of whom even have ISL experience. We have to be very careful against them and we have prepared well mentally and physically for the game. However, I have complete trust on my players and we are ready to get all the three points,” added the assistant head coach.
As for Gokulam, although Alejandro has been on a goal-scoring spree, the team hasn’t fared well this season. They are placed seventh on the table with 13 points. They have been winless in their last five games and come into the match having lost their last encounter Real Kashmir.
But having won the title in successive seasons in 2020-21 and 21-22 and a third-spot finish last season, they can always spring a surprise.
In the other match of the day, Shillong Lajong will be playing away against Real Kashmir. Having lost their last game following their stupendous run in the tournament, the team from Meghalaya will look to bounce back against the Snow Leopards.
Real Kashmir are one of the favourites this time around and have the same points as Aizawl but are placed fourth since the team from Mizoram has scored more goals. Shillong, meanwhile, are fifth with 16 points and have a chance to make it into the top three at the end of the day.
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