By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A hat-trick by NIgerian striker Friday Gbeneme guided home favourites Shillong Lajong FC into the final of North East Lajong Super Series. The hosts ousted United Sikkim 3-0 in the crucial encounter at JN Stadium here on Thursday.
Friday who joined SLFC this season found the back of the nets in the 8′, 14′ and 63rd minute to lead his side to a thumping victory.
“I am really impressed with Friday’s performance. Going by the way he is playing I would not be surprised if he scores more than 20 goals in the upcoming season of the I-League,” SLFC’s Scottish coach Desmond Bulpin said while expressing happiness over the fact that the Reds managed to score five goals from two matches.
The home team will now take on Australia A League team Wellington Phoenix in the final on Saturday.
“Wellington Phoenix is a very strong side since they have at least seven international players in their squad. We would try to perform to the best of our abilities in the final without thinking too much about the outcome,” the Lajong coach added.
After tasting a 2-5 defeat at the hands of the visiting team in the last encounter at Imphal, SLFC would definitely want to improve its game in the final, especially with the home crowd backing the side.
Earlier in the day, the hosts displayed some quality football in the first half to prove its superiority over Bhaichung Bhutia’s men who were outplayed in all the departments.
The combination of Friday and Sushil Kumar Singh also did the trick for the Reds who pushed the United Sikkim defense into the back foot.
The hosts dominated the proceedings from the word go and took the lead in the 8th minute after United Sikkim central defender Poibiang Pohshna committed a major blunder by mistakenly passing the ball to the in-form Friday who pushed it out of reach of the rival custodian Yoon Tae from the penalty area.
The Nigerian striker doubled the lead for Lajong after Lalchhummawia headed one to him of a free-kick taken by local lad Eugeneson Lyngdoh in the 14th minute.
Despite numerous opportunities, the hosts failed to increase the lead further in the first half.
Crossing over, SLFC continued its attacking game, pushing the visitors into the back foot.
However, at the time when the home side was controlling the game, United Sikkim made a great move forward and nearly put one back in the 56th minute when the header from Ahoadu R Parfait hit the cross bar.
The introduction of former Indian skipper Bhaichung Bhutia soon after did not change the fate of his team and Friday completed his hat-trick 63rd minute after Boithang Hoakip made a great cross from the left flung to find man-of-the-match who headed the ball guiding his side to a comprehensive victory.
United Sikkim’s Belgium coach Philippe de Ridder lauded the hosts for their clinical performance. “Lajong deserved to win,” he said at the post match press conference.
While admitting that his team needs to work hard to perform well at the I-League, Ridder said that injuries to key players was the main reason for the disappointing show on Thursday.