By Our Reporter/PTI
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC edged past Chirag United, Kerela 1-0 in a Round 12 I-League encounter at the JN Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday.
Playing before a capacity crowd, Lajong was the first to break the deadlock through Christopher Chizoba’s spotkick in the 30th minute, and held on to the lead till the end. Chizoba scored the goal after Lajong forward James Gibilee was brought down by Chirag defender Isaac Baokiji inside the box.
The Kerala side launched several forays into the Lajong half in second session but failed to score, mainly due to a solid defensive tactics by the team from Shillong. With Thursday’s win, Lajong earned three points to take their tally in the league to 16, while the Chirag remained on eight.
The special attraction from Lajong was 16-year- old Lalmuanwia who became the youngest player to play fopr Lajong after replacing winger Lalchuanmawia.
Talking to The Shillong Times, Lajong coach Pradyum Reddy said that the team was happy to gather full three points.
“The win gives us a head-to-head advantage against opponents with whom we could fight for a place towards the end of the season,” Reddy said.
Reddy also shot back at Lajong’s detractors who were harsh on the team at their big defeats against Churchill and Dempo saying that at this level one or two matches could go awry for any team.
The Lajong coach expressed happiness at his team’s overall performance this season.
“Last season it took us 17 matches to gain 16 points. I am confident the boys will better last I-League’s 26 points by a big margin this time.”
Salgaocar thrash 10-man East Bengal 4-0
Salgaocar thrashed a 10-man East Bengal 4-0in Margao on Thursday.
The home side, who badly needed a win after a string of draws and losses, benefited as East Bengal was reduced to 10 men in the 16th minute after their influential midfielder and captain Mehtab Hossain was red-carded after receiving his second yellow card for a dangerous foul on Ryuji Sueoka.
Salgaocar, who started positively playing the ball on the flanks, kept the rival defence under pressure with overhead crosses and took the lead in the 23rd minute.
Defender Nicolas Colaco, playing his first match, sent a cross from the right into the box for Edeh Chidi, who back-headed it to Francis Fernandes. Francis controlled the ball and took a shot that found the net.
East Bengal looked better in the early part of the second half and were gearing up to carry the fight into the enemy camp but Sueoka struck in the 68th minute to dampen their spirits.
Salgaocar made two changes midway in second half bringing in Marcus Mascarenhas and Elijah Junior Obagbemiro in place of Edeh Chidi and Ishfaq Ahmed. The move paid dividends as Obagbemiro found the net in the 85th minute off a back pass from Marcus Mascarenhas.
With four minutes left in the match, Salgaocar were also reduced to 10, but not before they had killed off the contest, when defender Biswajit Saha got his second yellow card for a foul on Tolgay Ozbay. (PTI)