TIL Desk Sports/ Aizawl FC created history by becoming the first club from the northeast to win the I-League after they held hosts Shillong Lajong FC to a 1-1 draw under lights at the JN Stadium here on Sunday. The champions rallied to restore parity against their fellow northeast rivals much to the delight of the hundreds of their fans who traveled all the way from Mizoram to witness the historic clash.
Aizawl needed at least a draw to bag the title and super sub William Lalnunfela emerged hero for the visitors by netting home the most important goal of the season in the 67th minute. Lajong had dented Aizawl hopes right in the 9th minute when season top-scorer Dipanda Dicka headed one in to bring the home fans alive. Dicka almost dashed Aizawl’s title hopes in stoppage time when he hit the post to miss the brace by an inch.
With 37 points from 28 matches, Aizawl were a point ahead of Mohan Bagan who beat Chennai City FC on Sunday. The side from the Northeast thus won its maiden I-League title only in its second campaign much to the delight of its faithful who have stood by its side through and thin. Lajong meanwhile finished fifth, their best ever in the I-League with 26 points from 18 matches.
