SHILLONG: There were nervous moments for the home team in the second half, but Shillong Lajong FC were still able to hold on for a crucial 2-1 win in a 13th round I-League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Friday, only their second victory at home in nine outings.
Salgaocar, meanwhile, lost their third match in a row and are fourth in the standings, while Lajong move to fifth while extending their unbeaten home run to six matches.
Injuries before the game meant that SLFC were without captain Minchol Son and strikers Uilliams Souza Silva and Cornell Glen, but Seikhohao Tuboi and Subash Singh led the way by scoring for the hosts. Darryl Duffy was Salgaocar’s goal-scorer.
The match started a little slowly, with neither team really able to create any advantage.
Tuboi’s goal in the 22nd minute took everyone by surprise. A lofted kick forward found Tuboi free on the left flank. He had to control the ball quickly and executed his kick perfectly, placing it to the left of goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.
The Reds delivered another blow to the Goans in the 38th minute.
The lightning quick Subash is always dangerous and Salgaocar were not alive to his ability.
In the centre of the pitch, he was fed a through ball and, sprinting past two defenders, he slotted the ball into the net.
Salgaocar pressed forward in repeated attacks but looked slightly frustrated as they were unable to put one into the net.
Three minutes of added time did not bring any benefit to the Goan team and the first half ended 2-0.
The Greens pulled a goal back six minutes into the restart with Duffy scoring his eighth goal of the season.
With the ball played into the box, Lajong were not alert enough and the Scot leapt up to head the ball in.
There was little for Karanjit to do following the goal, with Salgaocar going all out for the equaliser.
Lalthuammawia Ralte, starting the match in place of regular goalkeeper Vinay Singh, was called upon repeatedly as he and the defenders desperately kept the Goans at bay.
Despite not conceding, the Reds were guilty of losing possession too easily, which gave the visitors repeated chances to attack.
The game became more evenly balanced in the last 20 minutes and each side harried the other and that kept the 6,000 fans in their seats right to the end as Lajong held on for the 2-1 win.
Meanwhile, in other matches on Friday, Bengaluru FC strengthened their hold on the top spot with a 3-1 victory over Churchill Brothers in Goa.
Mohun Bagan, breaking a run of five matches without a win, thrashed United SC 4-0, with new signing Christopher Chizoba scoring a brace, Ram Malik adding one and Odafa Okolie another.
Lajong will now travel to Goa to play Churchill on December 10, leaving them little time to ready themselves for a change of conditions.
