By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC failed to conquer its demons against Sporting Clube de Goa as in another disappointment to the home fans, the Reds went down 0-1 to the Goan side in a Round 22 I-League match played at te JN Stadium here on Saturday.
The solitary goal of the match was scored by Sporting’s Adil Khan who was also the man-of-the-match. It may be mentioned that Sporting had beaten Lajong 4-3 in the first leg.
Lajong dominated the proceedings in the first half but squandered several chances, the closest being in the 29th minute when skipper John D. Menyongar dribbled past three defenders only to hit over the bar.
Lajong could have also drawn parity in the 88th minute when Australian striker Matthew Mayora’s shot from inside the box hit the bar again.
With four more matches to go i the I-League, the defeat meant that Lajong would no longer achieve its projected target of 40 points by the end of the season.
A disappointed Lajong coach Pradhyum Reddy said lack of coordination and movement among some players cost three points to the hosts.
“I am yet to ascertain whether it’s fatigue on part of the players or something else,” Reddy added.
Meanwhile, an elated Sporting coach Ekendra Singh said that his boys did well to earn three important points in an away game.
Singh said that though Lajong were a ‘very competitive side’ and dominated the ball possession, it is the number of goals scored that matters in the end.
The Sporting coach was also all praise for the crowd which semmed to be ‘supporting’ the team in the dying moments of the match.
“The crowd backed us whenever we played well. This is a very good sign,”he said.
Earlier, Lajong started on a positive note and the local fans had reasons to cheer for as early as the fifth minute when a Sushil Singh cross to Menyonger was tapped to Mayora who hit it wide of the post. It was Menyonger in action again in the 14th minute when his stroke from outside the box missed the nets by a whisker.
The best chance of the first half though came in the 29th minute. Eugeneson Lyngdoh crossed one to Menyonger who dribbled past three defenders only to hit the ball over the bar.
Crossing over, Sporting looked a different side altogether and increased their volley of attacks and almost made it 1-0 when Kalu Ogba, with only the Lajong goalkeeper to beat, hit the ball wide. The Lajong defence was again caught napping in the 70th minute when unmarked Adil Khan tapped in a deflected ball off goalkeeper Ralte into the nets to break the deadlock.
Lajong’s last hopes were dashed when Mayora’s powerful shot from inside the box in the 88th minute hit the bar.
Salgaocar ground Air India
Rjuji Sueoka’s first half penalty guided Salgaocar to a 1-0 win over Air India and took them to the third place in the 22nd round of the I-League played at Nehru Stadium in Margao on Saturday.
Salgaocar who had more of the ball possession in the first half kept on probing into the rival half with quick short passes and gained a penalty after Kali Alaudeen pushed Nicolao Colaco from behind inside the box and referee D Jacob awarded the penalty which Rjuji Sueoka converted by beating keeper Pawan Kumar to his right in the 23rd minute. (With inputs from PTI)