Second Division League’s Group C still alive as TRAU lose and Mohammedan draw
Shillong, Apr 21: Langsning FC could not maintain their undefeated run in away games as they lost 1-0 to Chennaiyin FC reserves in their Second Division League Group C match at the SSN College Ground in Chennai today.
The hosts’ captain Bedashwor Singh volleyed the ball for a goal in the 68th minute to net Chennaiyin reserves their first points of the campaign.
Langsning made two changes to the starting line-up, bringing back Donlad Diengdoh and Lancine Toure in place of Sameer Pradhan and Ryoga Katsurashima; the latter two had both made their debuts in the 1-1 draw in Shillong against Mohammedan Sporting on 13th April.
Pradhan was used as a substitute in today’s game, along with Milancy Khongstia and Ronaldkydon Lyngdoh Nonglait.
Langsning had won their first away fixture at Jamshedpur FC reserves 3-1 before drawing 0-0 with Mohammedan Sporting, but though they were in the hunt this time around they could not find a way through the young Chennaiyin defence in the hot and humid conditions, which saw the temperature hit 38 degrees for the 4PM kick-off.
Victory gave Chennaiyin their first points after having lost all of their previous six games.
Although a setback in their campaign to reach the final round of the Second Division, all is not lost as it was a day of shocks for the other two teams hoping to make it through.
First, in Imphal TRAU FC were defeated by Bengaluru FC reserves 2-1, while Jamshedpur FC reserves held off Mohammedan in a 1-1 draw in Jamshedpur even though the former were reduced to 10 men in the first half itself.
Saturday’s results mean that Bengaluru move to the top of the Group C standings, tied with TRAU on 11 points, but with a better head-to-head record as their previous meeting had ended in a draw.
Third-placed Mohammedan now have 9 points, the same as Langsning, but are in front on goal difference (+2 compared to +1) and also have a game in hand, so the Shillong team need to start scoring goals more regularly if they are to make a play for a place in the final round.
Langsning stay on the road and travel on from Chennai to nearby Bangalore to take on the Bengaluru reserves on 25th April.
(TSR file photo)
