Shillong, Mar 14: Shillong Lajong FC let a chance to reach the top of the Indian Football League 2025-26 standings slip as they lost 2-1 to Diamond Harbour FC at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here this evening.
Former Indian Super League player Luka Majcen (2′, 19′) had the West Bengal-based club leading 2-0 in under 20 minutes but around half an hour later Gladdy N Kharbuli (53′) pulled one back for Lajong.
Having drawn one and won one match, a win today would have taken Lajong to the top of the points table. Instead they are now fifth on 4 points. This was the last of a string of three home games and their next five will be on the road. Diamond Harbour are now second, behind only Sreenidi Deccan on head-to-head, with the latter winning 1-0 when these two sides met on 28th February.
SLFC coach Birendra Thapa named an unchanged starting lineup from the win against Real Kashmir last Sunday.
Diamond Harbour opened the scoring in just the second minute, before the hosts’ defence had time to settle. Majcen received the ball inside the box and laid it off for Antonio Moyano, whose effort forced a save from Lajong goalkeeper Siwel Rymbai. However, the rebound fell kindly for Majcen, and the Slovenian striker slotted it into the back of the net with ease to give his side the lead.
The striker doubled the advantage with another clinical finish at the near post. Jobby Justin was released down the right wing by Hugo Díaz after Lajong were dispossessed on the edge of the box. The skipper delivered a low cross across the six-yard box, which Majcen finished neatly past the diving goalkeeper.
The Reds were brave enough to stick to their plan and play their high intensity style of football. They continued to press high and use their wing backs and wingers to good effect to trouble the DHFC defence.
The home side almost halved the deficit, but a combination of goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh’s fingertips and the crossbar denied Everbrightson Sana’s header. Left-back Saveme Tariang whipped in a cross into the box, and Sana rose high to power a header goalwards, only to be denied.
Lajong’s expansive style of play, with the wing-backs pushing high up the pitch, left spaces for the opposition to exploit on the counter-attack. Diamond Harbour nearly added a third just before half time through such a move. Majcen’s initial effort was palmed away by the goalkeeper but the rebound fell to Bryce Miranda. The winger attempted to chip the ball over the keeper, only to see his effort come back off the crossbar.
The hosts finally halved the deficit nine minutes after the restart with a scintillating counter-attack that began deep in their own half. A long throw from the opposition was cleared by the defence, with the ball falling to Everbrightson Mylliempdah. The striker quickly released Gladdy, who had made an early run into space, and the midfielder shrugged off his marker before finishing expertly past Dheeraj Singh in goal.
SLFC controlled the match from that point on, with most of the play taking place in the opposition’s half. They dominated the midfield, with Lamlallian Vaiphei particularly impressive at the heart of it, dictating play with his passing and delivering dangerous set-piece balls into the box.
Everbrightson came close to score after the hour mark when he contested a high ball with Dheeraj. The ball floated and was destined to find the empty net but it was cleared of the line by the retreating Melroy Assisi.
Moments later, Everbrightson spurned a glorious opportunity to level the scores. After a slick passage of interplay, Damaitphang Lyngdoh cut the ball back into Everbright’s path, but the striker’s sliding effort flew well over the bar to the disappointment of the home side.
DHFC, who were pinned to their own half for most of the second half, amped up the intensity on the attack in the latter stages of the match. Substitute Sunday Afolabi struck the crossbar with a thunderous hit from long range and Siwel dived low to deny Moyano in stoppage time.
Lajong’s next fixture is away but they aren’t travelling far – it will be in Aizawl against Chanmari FC on 19th March at 4PM.
Shillong Lajong squad today:
Siwel Rymbai (GK), Kitboklang Khyriem, Rudra Ved, Saveme Tariang, Kenstar Kharshong, Damaitphang Lyngdoh(sub Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem 83′), Gladdy Kharbuli (sub Jakob Vanlalhimpuia 66′), Lamlallian, Abhay Gurung (sub Manbhakupar Iawphniaw 83′), Everbrightson Mylliempdah, Phrangki Buam (sub Tremiki Lamurong 79′)
(Diamond Harbour FC photo)
