SHILLONG: Picking themselves up after going two goals down, Rangdajied United FC pulled off a stunning comeback in the second half to draw 2-2 with Goan giants Dempo SC in their third round I-League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Friday.
Although not a full house by any means, the crowd that came to witness the fixture were left cheering on the home team, who earned their first point of the season, until the very end of the contest.
The first half was a tale of woe for Rangdajied, but Man-of-the-Match T Lalnunpuia lifted the team and the fans with a 55th minute strike.
Just outside the box, the player was unmarked and given enough time to set himself before smashing a right-footer that beat the diving Dempo goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Choudhury to his right.
Lalnunpuia will go down in the club’s history as their first player to score in the I-League after Rangdajied lost their first two matches without scoring.
The 20-year-old was a firecracker on the pitch, playing well throughout the game.
Of particular note was his 88th minute effort when the diminutive striker weaved his way past four Dempo players only to have his shot on goal blocked by another defender.
The Goan team’s players are, for the most part, taller than Rangdajied’s and crosses and corner kicks were easily dealt with and cleared. That all changed in the 83rd minute when the lanky substitute Sandesh Gadkari leaped up to glance the ball in for the equaliser following a cross from the right flank.
Gadkari came on after an hour of play when his captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh pulled up with an injury and had to leave the field.
The atmosphere in the ground went from disappointment after the first half to unbridled enthusiasm as Rangdajied struck in the second. The players’ morale also seemed to receive a fillip; the passing, defending and keeping all improved.
In once such instance Surjay Kumar Pariyar, the RUFC goalie, saved the team a certain goal following an almighty strike by Dempo’s Roberto Mendes Silva, pushing the ball over the crossbar.
Other players who impressed were David Ngaihte, Nagen Tamang and Restomwell Khriam.
Dempo did have their chances in the second half, but the momentum had firmly moved towards the host team.
The visitors, however, started the match positively, scoring through Roberto in the seventh minute via a free kick.
RUFC made several attempts to attack, especially up the right flank, but the players, once in a good position, were shut down by the Dempo defence.
Careless mistakes were also a feature for the home team during the first half with poor passing and clearances aplenty, much to the frustration of the spectators.
Dempo moved 2-0 up in stoppage time after one of their players was taken down inside the box by Lamine Tamba, who slid in to try and prevent a pass. Billy Mehmet converted the resulting penalty.
Rangdajied coach Santosh Kashyap was furious with the referee for awarding the penalty and was seen to argue with the official as the teams went off for the break.
He described the foul call as a “poor decision” and defended his player during the post-match press conference.
Overall, though, Kashyap was a happy man.
“My players did well. It’s a great feeling and important to get a point,” he said. “I’m very happy with the way we played in the second half; it was above expectations.”
He said that during the break he told his charges that they had the capability to perform well, but needed to play more open football.
“To come from 2-0 down is a great effort and I know that we will improve with every match,” he concluded.
Dempo assistant coach Mauricio Afonso, standing in for head coach Arthur Papas, was gracious and admitted that Rangdajied were the better team in the second half.
“I give credit to them (Rangdajied). We started well in the second half, but after conceding the first goal, the morale of the opposition went up and they were very upbeat,” he told the media gathering.
“We missed our chances, but taking one point in an away match is better than zero.”
Afonso added that his team will have to regroup before their next match, against fellow Goan team Salgaocar on October 9.
Rangdajied United, however, have received a massive boost ahead of their next match, but still need to iron out a few issues before playing defending champions Churchill Brothers at home on October 10.