Thus, both Mehrajuddin Wadoo's Mohammedan Sporting and Caetano Pinho's former I-League champions finished on 26 points, but Aizawl got the seventh position because of a better head-to-head record. Their win over the Kolkata side on Republic Day in Aizawl proved to be decisive
In an intense encounter, both the teams excelled in their defensive performances but also missed chances that came their way. Both goals came in the first half - while Anil Rama Goalkar put Churchill ahead in the 19th minute, R Lalthanmawia equalised for the home team four minutes later.
The Red Machines have gone through a lot of ups and downs in the ongoing edition of the I-League and currently placed fourth with 29 points from 19 outings.
Following the win, Real Kashmir move above TRAU, onto fifth place in the points table, level on points with Churchill Brothers, who sit just above them in fourth position because of a better goal difference
Captain Karthik Govind Swamy, a senior member of the squad and a player with a lot of professional experience (having played for Churchill Brothers and Chennai City FC in the I-League), said the time spent together in camp after the group stages helped them become a stronger unit.
The win took Real Kashmir to 26 points from 18 matches but they remained in sixth due to their inferior head-to-head record with Churchill Brothers. Aizawl is now seventh with 23 points from 18 games
The hosts, Churchill Brothers are comfortably sitting in mid-table with 26 points from 18 matches. At the same time, there is no real danger of being relegated.
A win will take the Red Pythons to 29 points, overtaking Churchill Brothers and Gokulam Kerala in the process. On the other hand, if Aizawl win, they will level on points with TRAU and Churchill Brothers. That would keep the Reds in a good position for the last four matches as well
The morning did not show the day in this match. It was Mohammedan Sporting who seized the early initiative, earning the first corner of the match in the third minute and almost making it 1-0 two minutes later. Sheikh Faiaz, who was a livewire down the right, got into the box and could have g