Shillong, Apr 9: A resolute Langsning FC bagged a vital point away at Mohammedan Sporting in their Second Division League Group C match in a 0-0 draw in Kolkata today.
The goalless match saw both sides manufacture several opportunities throughout the 90 minutes but failed to find a breakthrough.
Coach Hering Shangpliang elected to go into this game with the exact same starting XI that won 3-1 at Jamshedpur FC reserves on 4th April, but Langsning could not get the victory today as they battled not only the opposition players, but the weather as well, which was a hot and humid 34 degrees Celsius.
With the match edging closer to full time Shangpliang made all three of his possible substitutions in the final few minutes, bringing on Donborlang Nongkynrih, Poibiang Pohshna and Ronnie Nongbri. The visitors’ efforts paid off in defence as they consistently thwarted the attacks of Mohammedan, who had within their ranks Ethiopian forward Fikru Teferra, in the latter stages of the contest in order to secure a point.
The Shillong club now have 8 points from five games (two wins, two draws and one defeat), which is a fair result at the halfway stage of their group stage campaign. Mohammedan and TRAU FC have games in hand over Langsning, however, so the latter have to keep their momentum going.
This was the first goalless draw in Group C, but it should give Langsning a further bump in morale, as they will return to Shillong after being unbeaten in two away matches.
The Kolkata team, on the other hand, will be a touch disappointed at not having been able to take advantage of being hosts in this fixture.
The roles will now be reversed as Langsning will again face Mohammedan Sporting, this time at home, on Friday at the JN Stadium at 4PM.
(Photo contributed by Langsning FC)
