Boithang ‘Santa’ Haokip curls in the winner
SHILLONG: A beautiful curling free kick netted Boithang Haokip a goal and Shillong Lajong FC the match as the North East outfit defeated Dempo 2-1 at the JN Stadium, Polo, to round out the calendar year.
Lajong now go into a break before Federation Cup action next month, followed by the return to the I-League in February.
Milan Singh opened the scoring for the hosts with a 40th minute penalty, but it was Jeje Lalpekhlua who equalised in the second half for Dempo.
Man-of-the-Match Boithang’s lovely free kick on the hour beat everyone to restore the lead to Lajong, who then held on to win the match.
SLFC have now extended their unbeaten run at home to seven games.
They also end the year in fourth place in the standings on 23 points.
The hosts earned a penalty in the 38th minute after a Dempo defender handled the ball under pressure.
Before Milan converted, there pushing and shoving between the other players and Boithang picked up a yellow card.
The Reds held onto the lead into the second half before Jeje restored balance with his 56th minute goal.
The 22-year-old, who was named Emerging Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation on Friday, made a good run past the Lajong back line and easily snuck the ball past SLFC custodian Lalthuammawia Ralte.
However, Lajong did not have to wait long to retake the lead.
Less than five minutes later, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai was fouled on the left flank around 15 yards outside the box.
Boithang stepped up to take this one, curling it in and the ball missed everyone – his Lajong team mates, defenders and the diving goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani.
After this, the home team went on a renewed offensive, knowing that a one-goal margin was not comfortable enough.
Dempo, too, pushed forward and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions after they brought on Gabriel Fernandes in place of , but the Goan team was unable to score, leaving Lajong the victors.
The Reds have beaten Dempo in both scheduled games this season, coming off a more-than-impressive 3-0 triumph in Goa at the start of the season.
In other matches, Bengaluru FC beat Salgaocar 2-1 to stay in first place, while Sporting Club de Goa (in second) beat United SC 1-0.
Mohun Bagan stunned third-placed Pune FC 3-1 at home to move to sixth place in the overall standings on 18 points.