IFL 2025-26: Chanmari beats Namdhari to keep top six hopes alive

Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC to keep alive their hopes of a top six finish in the 2025-26 Indian Football League at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.

Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who made his first start of the season, and doubled his lead in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.

Chanmari FC has temporarily moved up to fifth place in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.

Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from the defense into space and picked up Pepe’s run. The midfielder had passed two defenders, controlled the ball well and calmly slipped it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

The Brazilian was again at the center of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a great run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate in the penalty area. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into Pepe’s path, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.

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Chanmari looked lively when going forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defense with their pace. The latter missed a good chance midway through the half and headed over the crossbar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break Chanmari’s defences. Najib Ibrahim went close with one such effort and around the half-hour mark Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the center circle this season, attempted another audacious effort from midfield which sailed just over the crossbar, allowing Zothanmawia to scramble into goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to regain possession, while Chanmari extended the one-goal lead at half-time.

The visitor doubled his lead in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing and his cross went over the goalkeeper’s head, hit the post and settled into the back of the net.

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The Aizawl side then scored the third goal just before the hour mark with a well-taken finish. Left back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had cleverly run behind the defense. The striker beat the goalkeeper from an acute angle with a beautiful side-foot finish.

Moments later the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from scratch following a strike from a low cross from Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through Adersh Mattummal’s long-range effort. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and found the bottom corner past the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands with an accurate low shot.

Chanmari put the game to bed nine minutes before time with another good goal, this time from substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass over the edge of the penalty area to the striker, who took a touch and fired a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Chanmari closed out the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping alive hopes of a top-six finish in the table.

Published on April 17, 2026