Fed Cup: Sporting Goa hold Aizawl to goalless draw in first leg

Hosts Aizawl FC were held to a goalless draw by Sporting Club de Goa in their Federation Cup first leg semi-final football clash at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Tuesday.

The home side who came into the match after upsetting the I-League winners Bengaluru FC, in the quarters and started on an attacking note as the chemistry upfront disrupted Sporting's defence.

In the ninth minute, in-form striker Joel Sunday had a chance to put Aizawl ahead but the lanky forward failed to find the net, curling his shot over the bar.

Although Sporting disrupted their opponents' attacking flow by initiating counter-attacks sporadically, the Goan club failed to restrict Aizawl in their half as the hosts regularly reached their opposition goalmouth.

In the 43rd minute, Sunday received a cross from the right flank inside the Sporting box. But ran into defensive traffic and was unable to make the most of the chance.

With neither side able to take their chances in the first half, the half-time scoreline read 0-0.

Coming into second half, the hosts had a golden opportunity to open their goal scoring chance in the 53rd minute when David Lalrinmuana's free-kick found Emanuel in the box, but the latter failed to convert the chance.

In the 62nd minute, David zipped in a cross from the right flank into the box in an attempt to find Sunday. But the Sporting defence intercepted and cleared.

Substitute Albert Zohmingmawia fluffed a golden chance to give Aizawl the lead when he blew a chance in the 73rd minute from a cross the left flank, as the home side upped their ante.

With both side playing it safe in the last few minutes of the match, the first leg of the semi-final ended in a goalless draw.

The second leg is scheduled for May 15 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa.

--IANS

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