Shillong, Oct 22: Langsning got their first season of the U-18 Youth League 2018-19 off to a superb start with a 1-0 victory over defending champions Shillong Lajong at Third Ground here today.
Lajong had not been defeated even once in the 2017-18 season on their way to eventual title glory when they had won 10 matches and drew one.
Langsning’s Damonlang Pathaw scored the lone goal in the 40th minute of the first Shillong-Guwahati zone match.
Lajong ended the game with 10 men after Kitboklang Khyriem picked up a straight red card following a bad charge on Langsning’s Defence Nongtdu in the 86th minute.
SLFC didn’t field some of their top U-18 players – like Phrangki Buam, Samuel Kynshi or Kynsailang Khongsit – but those were were given a chance weren’t really up to the mark today, though they went close on a couple of occasions.
It was a little hairy in the Langsning defence at times, but they held off Lajong’s challenges and emerged as the better side today.
Lajong will play their next match on 27th October at Gauhati Town Club. Then Gauhati Town Club come to Shillong to play Langsning on 29th October.
(TSR photo. Shillong Lajong are in red, Langsning in white. Damonlang Pathaw is wearing jersey No. 23)