Shillong, Feb 9: Shillong Lajong FC dealt a blow to Namdhari FC’s attempt to lift the I-League 2024-25 trophy by winning their clash last night 3-2 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here.
Figo Syndai (7′) and Ronney Kharbudon (60′, 71′) scored for the Reds, while Francis Nuer Addo (45’+2, 90′) found the back of the net for the visitors.
The result means Namdhari’s nine-game unbeaten run comes to an end; they had last been defeated in the I-League on 3rd December by Dempo SC. And it was as recently as 25th January that Namdhari and Lajong had met in the first leg where SLFC were handed a crushing 5-2 defeat.
This phenomenal streak had seen Namdhari challenge for the top of the table and had they won yesterday they would have regained first place from Churchill Brothers. Instead, Churchill lead on 26 points, with Namdhari second on 24. Lajong rose to sixth position with 19 points. The league is extremely close and one more win could take SLFC as high as third place. On the other hand, one defeat and they could drop as low as ninth if the clubs below get good results.
Yesterday, Lajong coach Jose Carlos Rodriguez Hevia made three changes to the starting line-up from the loss at Real Kashmir, bringing in Ronney, Kynsailang Khongsit and Damaitphang Lyngdoh in place of Aman Ahlawat, Saveme Tariang and Gladdy Kharbuli.
There had been rumours that Ronney was on his way to FC Goa during the January transfer window but it looks like this didn’t come to pass, which was good news yesterday.
Just seven minutes into the game, Damaitphang’s masterful pass through the defensive line found Figo Syndai, who held off a defender to fire a shot off the woodwork and into the net.
The hosts weren’t able to hold the lead into the break, however, as Addo flicked in a header off a free-kick. Another free-kick in the second half was headed in by Ronney for his first, which restored Lajong’s lead, and he used his head for the next goal too, off a corner this time, when he won a battle between him, a defender and the Namdhari goalkeeper.
Addo made things nervous for the home fans by pulling a goal back in the 90th minute but Lajong endured six minutes of stoppage time for the win.
Lajong stay at home for their next match on 14th February against Sreenidi Deccan at 7PM. This match had originally been scheduled for 12th February but that date clashes with Ed Sheeran’s concert at the nearby JN Stadium and the match was probably postponed because of that.
Shillong Lajong squad today:
Ranit Sarkar (GK), Ronney Kharbudon, Kynsailang Khongsit, Daniel Goncalves, Kenstar Kharshong, Renan Paulino De Souza, Damaitphang Lyngdoh (sub Marcos Rudwere Genar Silva 66′), Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Phrangki Buam (sub Sheen Sohktung 90’+1), Figo Syndai (sub Everbrightson Mylliempdah 90’+1), Douglas Tardin (sub Gladdy Kharbuli 77′)
(Photo: I-League Media)
