I-League 2017: Aizawl FC v Minerva Punjab Preview - Both sides look for their first win of the campaign

Manasi Pathak

I-League 2017: Aizawl FC v Minerva Punjab Preview - Both sides look for their first win of the campaign image

Aizawl will host its maiden I-League fixture of the season when they face newbies Minerva Punjab on Friday. Both sides come into the tie with a point each from their previous fixtures.

Ivan Bukenya’s 90th-minute header spoiled the party for Khalid Jamil's side against East Bengal as the game ended 1-1 at the Barasat stadium.

As for the Punjab outfit, they kicked off their I-League campaign by sharing the spoils in Chennai to register their first ever point in India's premier footballing competition. 

The Reds, under the former Mumbai FC boss' reign, look a completely revamped outfit. They had a commendable transfer window marked by the captures of Mumbai City FC’s custodian Albino Gomes, Chennaiyin FC’s Jayesh Rane, Delhi Dynamos' Lalruatthara and former Mumbai FC player Ashutosh Mehta. Mahmoud Amnah’s inclusion in the midfield bolsters their attacking forces as well. However, the former Syrian international's participation is doubtful and will most likely sit out against Punjab.

Jamil has stated that his side will improve from their errors in the last fixture and be more cautious in the future. The 39-year-old manager aims to keep the relegation danger away and then fight for the title. ''I am happy with my squad, and we will rectify the mistakes we made in our previous match,'' explained the Kuwait-born gaffer.

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Alfred Jaryan and Albert Zohmingmawia were impressive against East Bengal and Jamil will expect more of the same against the newbies.

For Minerva Punjab, the likes of former India international Manandeep Singh and Nigerian forwards Joel Sunday and Victor Amobi did play well in their previous game but failed to showcase the cutting edge required to make a difference. Kerala Blasters' Vinit Rai and former Dempo SC man Germanpreet Singh too paired well along with India U-19 starlet Nuruddin to weave a couple of dangerous moves against Chennai City last week. But for The Warriors’, goalkeeper Ravi Kumar was undoubtedly the best man on the pitch in the game as he put in a commendable performance between the sticks. Minerva Punjab will want more of the same from the custodian. 

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Furthermore, Punjab’s head coach Surinder Singh commented on the surface at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium saying, ‘’We are used to playing on natural grass but the artificial turf at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium will not prove to be too much of a hindrance."

The visitors fly to the north east of the country with no injury concerns in their team. But the hosts are favourites to grab three points in the clash which kicks off at 1:30PM IST on Friday. 

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

AIZAWL FC

Injured - None

Doubtful - Mahmoud Al Amna

Suspended - None

Key player- Alfred Jaryan


MINERVA PUNJAB

Doubtful - None

Injured - None

Suspended - None

Key Player - Joel Sunday

Manasi Pathak