Newly promoted Chanmari FC produced a dramatic finish to secure their first win of the Indian Football League 2025–26 season, defeating Sreenidi Deccan FC 2-1 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl on Saturday.
A late strike from Lalruatsanga deep into stoppage time sealed the win for the home side after goals from Joao Vitor De Paula Morais and Paulo Cezar Pereira Dos Santos had earlier brought the match to life in the second half. The result lifted Chanmari FC to second place in the league standings with four points, while Sreenidi Deccan slipped to third with three points after suffering their first defeat of the campaign.
Cagey Start in Aizawl
Both teams began the match cautiously, focusing on controlling possession rather than committing too many players forward. Chanmari head coach Victor Lalbiakmawia made one change to his lineup by introducing Brazilian forward Joao Morais, popularly known as Jota, to spearhead the attack.
On the other side, Sreenidi Deccan coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto was forced into a change as goalkeeper Aryan Niraj Lamba started in place of the injured Bhaskar Roy. The opening 15 minutes passed with limited attacking action as both sides assessed each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Gradually, Sreenidi Deccan began to assert themselves, pushing forward with greater intent.
Sreenidi Waste First-Half Opportunities
As the first half progressed, the visitors started dominating possession and creating the better scoring opportunities. Sreenidi came close to opening the scoring on a couple of occasions but were unable to convert their chances.
Hardik Bhatt and Fabrice Kah both found themselves in promising one-on-one situations, yet neither player managed to beat the goalkeeper. Chanmari’s defence remained compact and disciplined, ensuring the match remained scoreless at halftime despite Sreenidi’s attacking pressure.
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The match finally sprang to life in the 60th minute when Chanmari capitalised on a defensive lapse from the visitors. Midfielder Suanngaihmuana delivered a clever pass that found Jota in space inside the penalty area.
The Brazilian forward made no mistake, producing a powerful finish that left the goalkeeper helpless and sent the home crowd into celebration. The goal came somewhat against the run of play but demonstrated Chanmari’s ability to punish mistakes and remain clinical when opportunities arise.
Sreenidi Fight Back
Conceding the goal sparked a strong response from Sreenidi Deccan. The visitors pushed forward aggressively in search of an equaliser, increasing their attacking tempo and committing more players into the final third. Their persistence paid off in the 80th minute.
Substitute Paulo Cezar Pereira Dos Santos made an immediate impact after coming off the bench. Rising above the defence, he met a well-delivered cross from Hardik Bhatt and guided a precise header into the net. The equaliser set up a tense finish to the match as both teams looked for a decisive goal.
Lalruatsanga Seals Dramatic Victory
With the clock ticking down, the game appeared destined to end in a draw. However, Chanmari FC had one final twist in store. Five minutes of stoppage time were added, and in the 93rd minute, substitute Lalruatsanga produced the decisive moment of the match.
Joao Morais turned provider this time, delivering a sharp pass that split the defence and found Lalruatsanga in a dangerous position. The forward kept his composure and finished clinically to give Chanmari a dramatic 2-1 lead, sending the home supporters into wild celebrations.
There was little time remaining for Sreenidi to respond, and the referee’s final whistle soon confirmed Chanmari’s memorable victory.
Historic Moment for Chanmari
The win marked a significant milestone for the Aizawl-based club. As a newly promoted side, Chanmari FC have quickly shown that they can compete with established teams in the Indian Football League. Their disciplined defensive structure, combined with their ability to seize key moments in attack, has already made them one of the early surprises of the season.
Head coach Victor Lalbiakmawia will be particularly pleased with his team’s resilience and fighting spirit, qualities that were on full display during the dramatic closing stages of the match.
For Sreenidi Deccan, the defeat will be a frustrating one after dominating large portions of the game. The visitors created several chances and controlled the tempo for much of the match, but their inability to convert opportunities proved costly. Coach Carlos Vaz Pinto will likely look to address those missed chances as the season progresses.
Despite the loss, Sreenidi remain firmly in contention near the top of the table, and their overall performance still demonstrated the quality within their squad.
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Chanmari FC’s late victory highlights the unpredictable nature of the Indian Football League. With several teams closely matched in the standings, even small moments can determine the outcome of games. For Chanmari, Lalruatsanga’s stoppage-time strike could prove to be a defining moment in their debut season at this level.
As the league continues, both sides will now turn their attention to the next round of fixtures, hoping to build momentum and strengthen their positions in the table.
