Against Pilgrim School, Nagaland, in the semi-final of the tournament, it was anybody’s game before Mizoram prevailed 4-2 in the shootout. Impessive throughout and creating several chances, Mizoram were let down by a faltering attack that failed to finish off the impressive moves created by the midfield.
In the battle of equals, Nagaland were formidable on field for the entire duration of the match, only to muff it up in the penalties and book return tickets. Both teams had the opportunity; both failed to make use of them or covert the half chances that came their way, taking the game into the tie-breaker.
After the first half went goalless, Nagaland upped the ante and delivered accurate attacks on the Mizoram goalpost. Lusinei cut from the right to position himself in the centre and slammed a powerful left-footer that was brilliantly parried by Mizoram goalkeeper Laldanmawia.
Apart from the two chances that Mizoram squandered through Lalrochhara, Nagaland’s gritty defence nullified all their attempts to pierce their territory.
Nagaland’s Renchamo then ensured that the Mizoram keeper had a busy day in office, sending a 25-yard scorcher to the right corner of the goal. Laldanmawia superbly dived and deflected the rolling ball from going back of the net in the 40 th minute.
In the penalties, Mizoram slotted home four of the five shots while Nagaland missed their second and fourth shots. Having started first, Mizoram were almost out of danger after successfully converting the fourth shot, their no.17 Lalrochhara stepped out, promising his team mates not to falter a third time, having fluffed twice before. As soon as he fired the ball in, he made up for all his errors. “When we missed the second shot, I didn’t have the courage to ask for a shot, but once Nagaland put two out, I knew I could make it,” he said later.
And coach Mawia admitted that his team missed chances. “Nagaland are tough opponents and we share a similar style of playing. My advice to the players was to initiate as much ground play but we were off rails more or less. Quality football is being played, we just need to make sure we don’t miss too many chances,” he said.
Mizoram are up next against two-time finalists Chandigarh in the title clash and, having got away despite all their on-field mistakes against Nagaland, coach Mawia knows there isn’t room for error in the final.