Shillong, Jan 30: Shillong Lajong FC deepened Aizawl FC’s woes, beating them 3-1 in their I-League 2024-25 encounter today evening.
With the result, Lajong’s 16 points took them to fifth in the table while Aizawl remained rooted to the bottom three.
The winners led 1-0 at half time, with Douglas Tardin providing the only goal in the ninth minute via a penalty kick. Hardy Cliff Nongbri (46′) and Phrangki Buam (78′) scored for SLFC in the second half. The home side’s lone goal came through Lalbiakdika during second half stoppage time.
SLFC coach Jose Carlos Rodriguez Hevia made four changes to the starting line-up in the heavy defeat to Namdhari FC five days ago, taking out goalkeeper Manas Dubey, Ronney Kharbudon, Damaitphang Lyngdoh and Sheen Sohktung and replacing them with Ranit Sarkar, Aman Ahlawat, Gladdy Kharbuli and Figo Syndai respectively.
The visitors struck the first blow in the ninth minute, when Phrangki was brought down inside the box by goalkeeper John Lalruatfela. A long ball from midfield had caught out the Aizawl defence and the goalkeeper came charging off his line to body check the speedy Lajong forward. The I-League’s leading scorer Douglas made no mistake from the spot, side footing his shot into the bottom right corner after Lalruatfela had dived the other way.
For Aizawl, their young squad made little headway through the half and barely registered anything of note at all. A half-hearted shot easily gathered by Ranit was the best that came of their chances in that period. Lajong meanwhile were also content to stroke the ball around and keep the home side at bay, Phrangki’s curled attempt from the edge of the box the only other shot on target Within minutes of the restart, Lajong doubled their lead. Douglas displayed exactly why he isn’t just the league’s top goalscorer but also its top goal initiator, with another contribution in the second.
His gentle lay off inside the box was handily slammed in first time with the outside of the boot, by Hardy. Lajong’s captain wheeled off in celebration even as Aizawl’s shoulders slumped. With every game week, Aizawl’s ambitions slip further down, and as the team remain precariously perched just off the bottom of the table, shutting the leakage of goals is perhaps a primary concern.
No one has conceded more goals than them this season, and they were playing a side who have scored the most. Lajong kept creating chances through the half, but were also prone to leaving spaces in behind when they did so. Aizawl started playing on the counter and if not for the swift reflexes and game sense of Ranit could even have bagged a pair of goals of their own to draw level. Lajong added a third via Phrangki, after the forward had been brilliantly played through by Hardy in the right of the box.
He took a brilliant first touch before firing a rising shot that went through Lalruatfela and into the roof of the net. Aizawl got a consolation goal in the first minute of injury time, mere moments after being reduced to 10 players due to Lalthankhuma’s second yellow card. From a free-kick just outside the box, Lalbiakdika curled a perfect attempt into the far side bottom corner, taking away the visitors’ clean sheet if not their three points. With this result, Lajong occupy fifth in the points table with 16 points from 11 matches.
Lajong will now look forward to their next match which will be another away match against Real Kashmir FC on 2nd February at 2PM at the TRC Football Turf in Srinagar.
Shillong Lajong squad today:
Ranit Sarkar (GK), Aman Ahlawat, Kynsailang Khongsit (sub Saveme Tariang 68′), Daniel Goncalves, Kenstar Kharshong, Renan Paulino De Souza, Hardy Cliff Nongbri (sub Maxderidoff Wahlang 83′), Phrangki Buam (sub Tremiki Lamurong 83′), Gladdy Kharbuli (sub Damaitphang Lyngdoh 72′), Figo Syndai (sub Sheen Sohktung 72′), Douglas Tardin
(Photo: I-League Media)
