Shillong, Mar 20: Langsning FC coach Hering Shangpliang was left thoroughly unhappy with his side’s 1-1 draw with the reserve squad of Bengaluru FC in their Second Division Group C match at the JN Stadium here yesterday.
“We are very disappointed with the result because we threw away the game,” Shangpliang said at the post-match press conference. “We dominated the game, but with the one chance they had they converted when we had so many chances but couldn’t convert,” he added.
Two big blows took their toll on Langsning, the coach said – first Ebormi Buam required hospitalisation after Sunday practice, which made him unavailable for the match, and that was followed by Kento Sakurai’s substitution after the first 30 minutes of the game with a leg injury.
“The players have improved since the first match, but the injuries to two key players changed the scenario of the team,” Shangpliang explained.
Converting chances again proved to be a problem for the Shillong team and Shangpliang is still waiting on the services of Brazilian striker Jacson Glei Da Silva Clemente, whose joining has been delayed by visa issues.
The result means that Langsning are second in the group on four points, with Mohammedan Sporting leading the pack with six; the Kolkata team beat Chennaiyin FC reserves 4-0 at home on Saturday. Today TRAU FC of Manipur are scheduled to play their first fixture at Jamshedpur FC reserves.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru coach Naushad Moosa was pretty pleased with his team’s first match of the tournament.
“We took some time to settle down. It’s a very fast pitch and the first half was a bit difficult for us,” he said. “Langsning are a very good team. They place high and are fast. For our boys it was a tough match as a first game, but it will help the boys grow,” he added.
