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Aizawl FC hosted NEROCA FC in their first home game of the 2018-19 I-League season. It was a unique encounter apart from the fact that it was a Northeast derby. It was the first time when Gift Raikhan, the ex-NEROCA manager, faced his old team. The present NEROCA coach Manuel Fraile is an ex-Aizawl FC coach as well.
With two coaches facing off against their former teams, the match had a different angle of enthusiasm in it.
The match started in a cagey manner; both the teams took time to settle into the game. It also got physical at moments and free flow football was missing in the first half.
Both the teams had a few chances in the first half but failed to convert them as the scoreboard read nil-nil at halftime.
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The second half started with both the teams showing more urgency in attack and wanting to get the win.
The match ended in a goalless draw, and both the teams will be content with the result. On that note, let us take a look at five hits and flops from the game.
#5 Bektur Talgat Uulu (Aizawl FC)- Flop
The Kyrgyz international player, who played for Churchill Brothers before joining Aizawl FC this season, had the role of creating things for Aizawl on Wednesday. Bektur wasn't up to the task of creating chances for Aizawl. He did work well breaking up NEROCA attacks in the middle of the park, but his passes and link-up play with Ansumanah Kromah was poor.
Mapuia had to come back and cover for Bektur a lot, which hampered Aizawl's options of going forward.
Bektur also gifted NEROCA the possession a lot of times in the midfield. His positioning was also left wanting during the game. Bektur's below-par performance had a significant effect on Aizawl performance, and it was one of the main reason Aizawl played a pale brand of football against NEROCA.
#4 Ghanefo Ansumana Kromah (Aizawl FC)- Flop
Kromah was way below par and was one of the main reasons the game ended in a goalless stalemate. The former Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Churchill Brothers striker had an evening to forget. Nothing worked for Kromah as he tried to turn, hassle and get past defenders but it just didn't happen for him.
He was caught offside more times than one could remember and his touches were abysmally poor today. He had three good chances to score but failed to utilise those chances. His link up with Dodoz, Mapuia and Bektur was left wanting.
The other issue that was present in his game was the way he kept gifting possession away to NEROCA from dangerous situations. He failed to lead the team and his body language didn't do any good for his side.
It looks like the ex-East Bengal striker hasn't been able to continue his goal-scoring form from the Calcutta Football League, where he finished as the highest goal-scorer this season.
#3 Gurpreet Singh Chabal (Aizawl)- Hit
Gurpreet Singh, who spent last season warming the bench for Northeast United FC, has finally got some much-needed play time at Aizawl FC. After two games where the Punjab born shot-stopper failed to keep a clean sheet, he finally managed to keep a clean sheet in Aizawl first home game of the season.
Gurpreet made some excellent saves in the second half to deny NEROCA from taking the lead. The 23-year-old goalkeeper looked very confident under the bar.
The Punjabi shot stoppers heroics in the second half were crucial in denying NEORCA the victory. The 10-minute spell where NEROCA looked to throw the kitchen sink at Aizawl it was Gurpreet's calm, composed saves and the way he marshalled the defence that helped the former champions to keep a clean sheet and get the much-needed point out of this game. Gurpreet will look to keep another clean sheet when his side faces the defending champions Minerva on 10th.
#2 Mauro Boerchio (NEROCA)- Hit
Foreign goalkeepers in India isn't something that is unheard of in the I-League, but it is undoubtedly one of the rarest of the rare cases that comes up once in a while. NEROCA have decided to go with a foreign goalkeeper this season with Mauro Boerchio of Italy manning the posts. He was good against East Bengal and Gokulam, but it was today when he showed how good a keeper he is.
In the first half, he made some fantastic saves and the way he gripped the ball was also something that is praiseworthy. He looked to grip the ball a lot more compared to other keepers, and that is something every coach wants to see their keepers do.
The way he saved two free kicks of Aizawl FC from dangerous situations with relative ease shows the amount of talent the Italian shot-stopper possess. He was instrumental in instigating fast counter attacks for NEROCA through his pinpoint distribution. If he keeps on performing well, then NEROCA can hope for another good season like last year.
#1 Malemnganba Meitei (NEROCA)- Hit
When an ex-Chelsea coach like Avram Grant praises someone like Malemnganba Meitei then surely the lad has talent. Malemnganba was with Northeast United FC last season but injuries and minimal playing time forced the Manipuri midfielder to join NEROCA this season, and the lad has already been one of the best signings of the season so far for NEROCA.
He had a golden chance to score against East Bengal but saw his shot being saved off the line. Against Gokulam also he looked very lively.
Today though he was a different man altogether. From the flanks to the centre Malemnganba probably ran every inch of synthetic grass that is laid in the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl.
He created numerous opportunities for his strikers which they missed. He also had a few attempts at goal himself but failed to score.
The ex-NEUFC player deserved a goal or at least an assist today for the way he played. He always looked to find free space when he had the ball and quickly closed down on the Aizawl players when he lost the ball.
He was rightly awarded as the Hero of the Match, and the NEROCA faithful will be hoping that their very own local midfielder keeps playing well.
