By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Going up against the minnows of the current I-League season, Shillong Lajong FC fans would have expected nothing less than a victory over United Sikkim when the two teams clashed at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Saturday.
The home team, however, gave a few jitters to the Saturday crowd as they had to come from a goal behind to beat Sikkim 2-1, a result that ended their 10-match winless streak this season.
The last time Lajong won a game was at the end of November against Pailan Arrows at home, under the tutelage of the now-sacked coach Desmond Bulpin. Since then SLFC have also signed two Japanese players, who were important in securing the victory on Saturday.
The Shillong club are now in 10th place in the points table, with four wins, with United Sikkim are 13th.
The Reds got off to a solid start, dominating play in the second North East I-League derby. In the very first minute, Sushil Kumar Singh had a chance at scoring, hammering the ball into the crossbar to signal Lajong’s intent.
The hosts had further chances come their way, but could not convert any of them into the much-desired goal. The Thangboi Singto-led side, however, displayed good attacking football in the first half.
The United Sikkim boys took some time to get going, but as the match went on, they wrested possession away from the home team and created a few chances, but couldn’t push all the way and score, not least because of the good goalkeeping of Lajong’s Lalthuanmawia Ralte.
Sikkim have drawn nine of their 19 matches, while only winning one, and it seemed likely that this game could be their 10th draw as the first half ended goalless.
But following the break, United Sikkim dominated the first 20 minutes of play and surged into the lead when Lineker Machado put the ball into the net after receiving a cross from Ashish Chettri in the 66th minute.
Their opponents’ goal might have forced Thangboi to make a couple of changes, as he brought on Lalhlimthara for Jibon Singh in the 74th minute and Samson Ramengmawia for Lalramluaha in the 80th minute.
Lajong pressed hard for the equaliser and their efforts paid off when Lalhlimthara found the back of the net after being assisted by recent signing Sho Kamimura – the hero of the last game on Monday against Air India – just nine minutes from full time.
The game continued on with both sides on 1-1, but Kamimura’s compatriot, Taisuke Matsugae, had a surprise to deliver.
In extra time, Matsugae managed to get the ball across the opposition goal line in a melee with a Sikkim defender and their goalie, much to the disappointment of the visitors, but to the unabashed delight of the Lajong supporters.
Unsurprisingly, Matsugae was also named Man-of-the-Match.