Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Lajong end 2012 with 1-2 defeat to Pune

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Despite a second half surge, given impetus by a terrific goal from Govin Singh, Shillong Lajong FC lost 1-2 to Pune FC in their 13th round clash of the I-League at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Saturday.

In what was a bitter contest, the visitors notched up their first ever win against Lajong, who have now gone five games without a victory this season. By virtue of their triumph, Pune now move to second place in the table, with Lajong eighth.

At the start both teams made forays into the other’s half. Lajong played attackingly and their first real shot on target came in the 29th minute. Deep in Pune’s half Friday Gbeneme passed to fellow striker Sushil Kumar Singh, who struck the ball low, with Pune goalkeeper Abhra Mondal putting it out.

The visitors responded immediately, with the first goal in the 30th minute. The ball was put forward into the Shillong box and Pune player Jeje Lalpekhlua and SLFC goalie Lalthuammawia Ralte both went for it. Jeje reached first and managed to get it over the goal line, but tripped over Ralte in the process.

The setback did dull the Saturday crowd’s enthusiasm, but it was just for a minute, as Sushil had another chance in the 33rd minute, blasting the ball towards the opposition goal, where the keeper blocked it.

Sushil was the obvious danger man for SLFC and he was viciously fouled by Mumtaz Akhtar 10 yards outside the Pune box during added time, although there was no yellow card. Eugeneson Lyngdoh stepped up to take the free kick. Almost perfectly taken, the ball dipped over the defensive wall, kissed the crossbar and went out.

The score read 1-0 in Pune’s favour at the end of the first half, with the match evenly balanced.

After the break, the Shillong crowd was in for another unwelcome surprise, when Khanthang Paite headed the ball in to take Pune 2-0 up in the 48th minute.

The ball was crossed in from the right flank and Paite was given too much space up front. With no one guarding the diminutive player, it was easy for him to head the ball home.

The match was played in pretty good spirit until this point, but in the 52nd minute came an unfortunate incident between Lajong defender Minchol Son and Pune striker James Moga, who is likely to be remembered for a long time by the spectators.

Moga, tall and sturdily-built, often caught the SLFC defence napping and after a Lajong attack was rebuffed, he broke with only Minchol for company.

The North Korean defender did well to shadow Moga and prevent him from having an attempt on goal, but in the process the two tumbled over each other and began a bit of pushing and shoving; both players were booked by the referee.

Over the next few minutes Moga was in the thick of the action and the crowd liberally hissed at him every time he had possession. The South Sudanese player, to his credit, responded with a smile. During one attack he was surrounded by as many as four Lajong players before he fell down dramatically close to the box. No foul was given and he was jeered even further.

Two goals down, Lajong were constantly in pursuit of their first goal and they were rewarded on the hour mark by Govin. In possession of the ball on the right side, 15 yards away from the box, he looked to pass, but with his team mates all marked he went for the goal himself, which caught the Pune keeper unawares; Mondal was left rooted to the spot as the ball went past and into the net.

With this strike the crowd really came alive and the momentum shifted towards the home team. There were two good attempts in the next two minutes from Friday and Govin again, although they were both denied.

The referee issued a few yellow cards during the game, but it was Ralte who picked up a straight red card after fouling Moga inside the box.

In the 87th minute, Lajong attacked, but the ball was cleared and Moga broke free with only Ralte in his way. The Mizoram keeper was applauded by the fans as he left the field.

He was hastily replaced by Basant Singh, who emerged as a late hero for the home team by blocking the penalty, taken by Moga.

Given a chance for a rebound, Moga struck the ball into the upright, a happy result for the crowd, who celebrated almost as if Lajong had won the match.

That joy was short-lived, as the game ended a few minutes later 2-1 to Pune.

Under pressure for most of the contest, Mondal was named Man-of-the-Match.

In other matches, United Sikkim drew 1-1 at ONGC, while Sporting Clube de Goa sprung a surprise to beat Prayag United 3-1.

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