2017–18 season of Aizawl F.C.
Aizawl Football Club held its thirty-fourth season from 1 June 2017 to 31 May 2018, entering the 2017–18 I-League season as the defending champions finishing fifth. They reached the final of the Mizoram Premier League, losing to Chhinga Veng FC. The club started in the 2018 AFC Champions League but lost to Zob Ahan in the playoff round. This meant that they qualified for the 2018 AFC Cup where they finished bottom of the group. In the Super Cup, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by East Bengal.
Season overview.
Pre-season.
After winning the previous season, Khalid Jamil joined East Bengal. He was joined by fellow team members Mahmoud Amnah, Lalramchullova and Brandon Vanlalremdika. The loans of Albino Gomes, Ashutosh Mehta and Jayesh Rane ended without extensions, so these players returned to their respective clubs before the start of the 2017–18 season. Fellow Mizo outfit Chinnga Veng F.C. signed Aizawl's goal-keeper, Zothanmawia ahead of this season's Mizoram Premier League.
In June 2017, Aizawl signed a former defender and ONGC captain, Lalchhuanawma Varte as their first signing of the season. Later in June, Mohun Bagan announced the signing of Aizawl's defender Kingsley Obumneme; Mohun Bagan announced the signing of Aizawl's defender, Kamo Stephane Bayi.
A new coach, Paulo Menezes, was signed on 28 July.
July.
In July, Aizawl signed former midfielder, David Lalrinmuana, from East Bengal. He had played for Aizawl in the 2012 I-League 2nd Division. Aizawl also signed Nigerian defender Kareem Omolaja from Minerva Punjab, former Indian defender Shylo Malsawmtluanga from Bhawanipore F.C.
East Bengal signed Aizawl's winger, Laldanmawia Ralte for the 2017–18 season on 9 July.
On 23 July, in the ISL Draft, Kerala Blasters picked Lalthakima and Lalruatthara and Bengaluru picked Zohmingliana Ralte.
August.
Aizawl announced the signing of former defender and local native Lalrozama Fanai from Fateh Hyderabad F.C. on 9 August.
On 18 August, Aizawl signed Japanese forward, Yugo Kobayashi from Songkhla United F.C. and a custodian, Avilash Paul from Pune F.C.
Aizawl also signed Ivorian striker Léonce Dodoz Zikahi on 20 August. He had played for Mohammedan Sporting in I-League 2nd Division in the 2016–2017 season. On 24 August, Aizawl signed Afghan defender, Masih Saighani, from the German club Türk Gücü Friedberg. The team signed Romanian striker Andrei Ionescu from FC Voluntari on 26 August. On 28 August, Aizawl announced their squad for the Mizoram Premier League.
On 31 August, Aizawl started their 2017–18 season with an away match against Ramhlun North in the 2017–18 Mizoram Premier League. Aizawl gave away an early lead to the home team, with Lalliansanga scoring for Ramhlun North in the 12th minute. They tied the score in the 35th minute with a strike from Jonathan Lalrawngbawla (Jojo). Neither team scored a goal in the second half resulting in a tie score for the match.
September.
On 1 September, Aizawl signed Liandala Fanai from Chennai City F.C.
Aizawl drew their second match on 8 September against Chanmari with a goal scored by both teams. Lalmuanawma scored for Chanmari in the 26th minute and David Lalrinmuana scored in the injury time of first half.
On 15 September, Aizawl played their first home match against Chhinga Veng that ended in a draw. Lalthathanga Khawlhring scored for Aizawl in the 19th minute but Malsawmfela scored for Chhinga Veng three minutes later. Khawlhring scored an own-goal in the 36th minute, giving the advantage to Chhinga Veng by half-time. Jojo scored for Aizawl in the 47th minute. Aizawl lost their first match in the tournament to Chanmari West 0–1 in an away match on 18 September. Lalremruata scored the only goal of the match for Chanmari West in the 74th minute. This loss placed Aizawl in seventh position with just three points in four matches.
Aizawl secured their first win of the tournament by defeating the Mizoram Police FC by 6–1 on 21 September. Rochharzela scored the first hat-trick for Aizawl in the tournament with Hmingthanmawia, Alfred Jaryan and Jojo each scoring a goal. Kareem Omolaja scored the lone goal for the Mizoram Police. On 28 September, Aizawl secured their second consecutive win in the tournament defeating Dinthar. Omolaja and Jojo each scored for Aizawl in the first half within two minutes of each other. Lalmuankima scored the third goal for Aizawl. The two wins placed Aizawl in third position at the end of September.
October.
On 3 October, Aizawl played Bethlehem who scored first with a goal by Dawngzela in the 36th minute, and again just before half-time with a goal by Samson Ramengmawia. They maintained their lead in the second-half winning the match by 2–0.
After a defeat in their first tournament meeting, Mizoram Police came back strongly on 13 October to tie the match 2–2 with Aizawl. With the loss and draw Aizawl dropped to fourth position with six games remaining in this League Stage. Aizawl beat Chanmari by 3–1 on 19 October. Malsawmzuala scored the first goal for Chanmari in the 20th minute. Aizawl responded with William Lalnunfela and Ionescu each scoring in the space of four minutes. Lalnunfela scored his second match goal in the second half.
On 24 October, Aizawl defeated Bethlehem with a 5–1 win. Lalmuankima scored first for Aizawl in the 17th minute, but Lalnuntluanga equalized for Bethlehem three minutes later. Lalrinmuana scored a second Aizawl goal in the 25th minute and doubled their lead in the first half with a goal from their international defender, Saighani. In the second half Aizawl scored two goals, one each from Lalrinmuana and Rochharzela. Aizawl defeated the in-form Chhinga Veng with a 2–0 win on 26 October. Lalmuankima scored the first goal of the match for Aizawl in the 16th minute. Chhinga Veng was never able to break the Aizawl defense. Aizawl doubled their lead in the final minutes with a goal from Jojo.
November.
On 1 November, Aizawl completed their first double of the tournament over Dinthar with a 4–0 victory. Lalrinmuana scored for Aizawl in the ninth minute. Later, Lalmuankima and Ionescu scored a goal each. Aizawl ended the first half with a three-goal lead. Lalnunfela scored in the second half for Aizawl, securing their place in the semifinals.
On 6 November, the AFC License was awarded to Aizawl FC, allowing the team to play in AFC Club competitions for the 2017–18 season. With the rise in club-rankings as current I-League champions, Aizawl FC became first Indian club to play in AFC Play-off round. Aizawl signed former East Bengal F.C. and NEROCA F.C. custodian Arup Debnath as a backup to their first choice player between the sticks on 7 November.
On 10 November, Aizawl won 2–0 over Chanmari West scoring a goal in both halves. Saighani scored first for Aizawl in the 25th minute. Later, Lalnunfela scored the late goal in the 88th minute, securing the team's position in the top two in League Stage. Aizawl lost their last game in the League Stage of the tournament against Ramhlun North on 17 November. Lalremruata scored for Ramhlun North in the final minutes to keep their hopes of advancing to semifinals alive.
On 23 November in the MPL Semifinal first leg, Lalrinpuia of the Mizoram Police scored the first goal in the seventh minute. Aizawl responded when Afghan defender Saighani scored for Aizawl in the 22nd minute. Later, Lalhriatrenga put the I-League champion club ahead in the 85th minute. A last-minute goal scored by Police striker Joseph Lalfakzuala tied the score. Aizawl announced the arrival of V Laltanpuia and Lalthathanga Khawlhring on loan from Mizoram Police FC and NorthEast United FC respectively for 2017–18 season.
Aizawl started the I-League with a 2–2 draw against East Bengal on 28 November in an away encounter. The Kolkata Giants scored first when Katsumi Yusa's corner was deflected by Brandon and Eduardo Ferreira headed in at the far post. Later, Katsumi doubled East Bengal's lead when Avilash was left wrong-footed from the initial shot taken by Mohammed Rafique which took a deflection off Katsumi and beat the goalkeeper. Aizawl scored within two minutes when David curled a free kick inside the box which was headed in by Lalnunfela. Aizawl tied in the final minutes of the match when William scored his second from a Khawlhring corner.
I-League Position at the end of November
Source: 
December.
On 4 December in the MPL Semifinal second leg, Aizawl took the lead in the 14th minute with a strike from Lalmuankima. Mizoram Police FC tied three minutes later when Lalbiakhlua scored from a Valpuia delivery. In a penalty shootout, Aizawl scored to give the two-time MPL champions a 5–3 shootout victory. On 8 December in the MPL Final, Chhinga Veng's Laldampuia scored in the fifth minute. Aizawl skipper Lalrinmuana almost struck an equalizer with a free-kick at the other end while Saighani also came close. The I-League champions did improve in the second half but missed a great chance to equalize late on as Saighani was gifted a great opportunity only for him to drill his effort right in front of Chhinga Veng FC's custodian Zothanmawia. This made Aizawl settle as runners-up. Rochharzela was awarded the Best Young Player and H. Lalmuankima was awarded Best Forward of the Tournament for Mizoram Premier League.
On 13 December, Aizawl clinched their first victory of the season scoring a late winner against Churchill Brothers at Aizawl. They missed the services of their top-scorer Lalnunfela for the match due to an ankle injury. The hosts were in complete control of the game and enjoyed the lion's share of possession right from the start but lack of finishing haunted them. They also had to replace Lalrinmuana early in the match because of a hamstring niggle. It was only in the 88th minute that Aizawl could finally register a winning goal when Dodoz assisted Kobayashi, whose left-footed shot sailed past Churchill Brothers' custodian.
On 18 December, Aizawl's 616-day unbeaten run at home in the I-League ended after losing their first home match since April 2016 to Shillong Lajong. After an array of chances, the score stood at 0–0 at the end of the first half. But Reds outclassed the home side in the second half. Aiman Al-Hagri's shot inside the box was blocked by the Aizawl's boys, but the ball fell to Lajong's winger Tlang who calmly curled the ball towards the far side of the net and scored the winning goal of the match.
On 27 December, Aizawl ended Minerva Punjab's unbeaten run with a 2–1 crucial victory in Aizawl. The ball from Lalrinmuana's corner was guided to the far post of Minerva's goal by defender Omolaja to leave goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar completely stranded. Dodoz danced past Minerva's defender and slid the ball to Romanian midfielder Ionescu, who made no mistake as he slotted home his first goal of the season. Minerva pulled one back in the added time as Girik Khosla made the best out of the defensive lapses.
On 31 December, Aizawl beat debutants Gokulam Kerala 0–2 in an away encounter. A low cross from left-flank by Hmunmawia took a deflection off Gokulam's Daniel Ashley Addo to Kobayashi, whose shot put the ball into the net in the 45th minute. After the changeover, Aizawl took only seven minutes to double the lead courtesy of Ionescu's efforts.
I-League Position at the end of December
January.
On 1 January, Aizawl announced the signing of Mizo forward, Lalkhawpuimawia from Chhinga Veng.
The Indian Super League side FC Goa signed Lalmuankima in a free transfer on 6 January. On 7 January, Aizawl went down 2–0 to Mohun Bagan in an away encounter, the first match in 2018. The first goal came dramatically when Saighani outstretched his leg to deny Aser Pierrick Dipanda a finish on the cross but ended up tapping the ball into his own goal. Dicka doubled the lead for the Mariners, making the best use of a long ball as he dribbled past an advancing Avilash on the left before slotting it home with his left foot.
On 13 January, Aizawl returned to their winning ways by outclassing Chennai City 2–0 in a home encounter. Kobayashi opened the scoring when he converted a penalty after Chennai City's Venyamin Shumeyko handled the ball while trying to stop Lalrinmuana inside the box. In the 33rd minute, Lalrinmuana latched on to a square pass from Ionescu and fired a left-footer which took a slight deflection off Dharmaraj Ravanan before rolling home to double the lead to Aizawl. Aizawl played out a goalless draw against East Bengal in a home encounter on 16 January. Aizawl missed chances in the