Shillong, Oct 17: Ten-man Rangdajied United held on for a 1-1 draw with Shillong Lajong in the Shillong Premier League at the JN Stadium here today.
These two teams had played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg on 2nd October.
Today Phrangki Buam put Lajong into the lead in the seventh minute, but Rangdajied cancelled that out in first half stoppage time with the goal awarded to Aiborlang Khongjee.
Buam scored after Rangdajied gave away the ball near their own box, allowing Lajong’s No. 14 to power the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.
Rangdajied’s Wallamsuk Nongkhlaw received a straight red card in the 25th minute to leave his side with only 10 players on the pitch. Nongkhlaw was guilty of launching into a flying tackle studs up (pictured) on Batskhemlang Thangkhiew.
RUFC were playing with fire when it came to knocking the ball around deep in their own half and Buam almost had a second goal in this fashion but was blocked by Padam Chettri in the 40th minute.
A foul on Oresterwell Langshiang just outside Lajong’s 18-yard box in the 44th minute gave Rangdajied an opening and they proceeded to win a corner from which Khongjee scored.
Rangdajied looked attacking early in the second half, but soon gave up and went on the defensive, understandable given their 10-man status. SLFC poured attack after attack but couldn’t find a way past.
Lajong have now gone three matches without a victory (all three ended in draws), while Rangdajied keep up their unbeaten record. This was their fourth draw of the season. Rangdajied now have 16 points to Lajong’s 12, though the latter still have a game in hand.
Tomorrow Langsning are scheduled to face Nangkiew Irat at 3PM.
(TSR photo. Rangdajied United are in blue, Shillong Lajong in red)
