IFL 2025-26: Chanmari FC rescue 2-2 draw vs Rajasthan United in stoppage-time thriller
Synopsis
Rajasthan United led 2-0 and looked set for their first Championship Phase win — then Chanmari FC scored twice in eight minutes of stoppage time, the second a 98th-minute long-ranger that squirmed through the goalkeeper's legs. A dramatic season finale at Kalyani that Rajasthan United will not forget in a hurry.
Key Takeaways
Chanmari FC salvaged a 2-2 draw against Rajasthan United FC at Kalyani Stadium on 19 May 2025 .
Both Chanmari goals came in stoppage time: Lalruatsanga (90+2') and substitute Michael Lalbiaksanga (90+8').
Gerard Artigas (25') and Thomyo L.
Shimray (41') had given Rajasthan United a 2-0 half-time lead.
Rajasthan United finish the season fourth with 18 points ; Chanmari FC are provisionally fifth with 15 points .
The equaliser came after goalkeeper Dinesh Choudhary failed to gather Lalbiaksanga's long-range effort cleanly.
Chanmari FC snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Rajasthan United FC in their final Championship Phase fixture of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2025-26 at Kalyani Stadium, Kalyani, on Tuesday, 19 May 2025. The Mizoram-based side trailed by two goals before Lalruatsanga (90+2') and substitute Michael Lalbiaksanga (90+8') struck in stoppage time to earn a share of the points in one of the competition's most dramatic finales.
How the Goals Fell
Rajasthan United took control early, with their forwards Amadou Soukouna, Pranjal Bhumij, and Thomyo L. Shimray combining effectively alongside William Pauliankhum. The opener arrived in the 25th minute after a defensive mishap: goalkeeper Zothanmawia was caught off his line following a misplaced back pass from Zothanpuia, allowing Spaniard Gerard Artigas to finish calmly from distance.
Rajasthan doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when midfielder Kiatalua Tadeu Emous (Norberto) threaded a precise through ball for Thomyo, who rounded the goalkeeper before finishing from a tight angle. At half-time, the Desert Warriors appeared to be cruising toward their first Championship Phase win.
Chanmari's Second-Half Pressure
Chanmari returned with urgency after the break. João Vitor de Paula Morais (Jota) was a constant threat from wide areas, combining with substitute Pedro Lucas Silva (Pepe), while Lalruatsanga repeatedly troubled the Rajasthan backline down the right flank. Goalkeeper Dinesh Choudhary produced a pair of important saves around the 67th and 68th minutes to deny Jota and C. Lalmuanpuia.
Chanmari believed they had pulled one back inside the opening five minutes of the second half, but Joel Lalramengmawia's long-range strike was ruled out for offside. In the 70th minute, Jota surged into the area and slipped the ball through the legs of Rajasthan captain Novin Gurung, only for defenders to clear off the line.
The Stoppage-Time Comeback
The comeback began in the 92nd minute. A lofted delivery from the right found Lalruatsanga, who guided the ball into the net with his chest to make it 2-1. Chanmari pressed relentlessly and found the equaliser in the 98th minute: following a partially cleared corner, substitute Michael Lalbiaksanga struck a long-range effort from the right, and Dinesh failed to gather cleanly — the ball slipping through his legs and over the line to complete one of the season's most striking turnarounds.
Final Standings Impact
Rajasthan United FC will finish the season in fourth place with 18 points, left to rue a two-goal lead surrendered in the dying moments of their campaign. Chanmari FC are provisionally fifth with 15 points. The result is a fitting reflection of a Championship Phase defined by fine margins, with Chanmari captain Lalrinchhana Tochhawng and defender Marlon Rangel also deserving credit for keeping the side in the contest through the difficult first half.
Point of View
Only to be undone by a goalkeeper error in added time. Rajasthan United's inability to manage a two-goal lead in the closing stages will sting, but the broader question is whether their fourth-place finish reflects the ceiling of their squad depth. For Chanmari, a point from a position of apparent defeat is a psychological win heading into the off-season, even if fifth place does not tell the story of how competitive they were throughout.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Chanmari FC and Rajasthan United in IFL 2025-26?
The match ended 2-2, with Chanmari FC scoring twice in stoppage time to rescue a draw. Rajasthan United had led 2-0 at half-time through Gerard Artigas and Thomyo L. Shimray.
Who scored for Chanmari FC in the dramatic comeback?
Lalruatsanga scored in the 90+2nd minute with a chest finish from a lofted delivery, and substitute Michael Lalbiaksanga completed the comeback in the 98th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through goalkeeper Dinesh Choudhary's legs.
Where did Rajasthan United and Chanmari FC finish in the IFL 2025-26 Championship Phase?
Rajasthan United finished fourth with 18 points, while Chanmari FC are provisionally fifth with 15 points after their final fixture of the Championship Phase.
What led to Rajasthan United's first goal against Chanmari FC?
A defensive mix-up in the 25th minute saw goalkeeper Zothanmawia caught off his line after a misplaced back pass from defender Zothanpuia, allowing Gerard Artigas to finish calmly from distance.
Where was the IFL 2025-26 Championship Phase match played?
The match was played at Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani, West Bengal, on Tuesday, 19 May 2025.
