Reds hold off Royal Wahingdoh 1-0
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong took the provisional lead in the U-19 I-League North East Zone qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Royal Wahingdoh, displaying a dogged performance at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Tuesday.
Captain Redeem Tlang scored the lone goal of the match in the 29th minute.
Redeem chested the ball into the net following a Bipin Singh cross and that goal proved to be the only thing separating the two young sides.
Lajong now have six points with two wins in two games. Wahingdoh have three points from two matches.
The action was mostly one way in the first half, with the junior Reds creating most of the chances.
Rupert Nongrum provided a lovely pass to Zodingliana in the 35th minute, but the latter’s shot narrowly missed the target.
The Royals got their act together in the second half, putting more pressure on the Lajong players.
RWFC were more active in Shillong Lajong’s box, but despite their repeated efforts, they could not find the equaliser.
Pressing forward constantly, the junior Royals earned three throw-ins within 30 seconds around the 80th minute, with the final one turned into a header on target, although Lajong custodian Nitin Meel, certainly one of the tallest players among the four teams, easily collected the ball.
Despite the defeat, Wahingdoh coach Bobby L Nongbet said his boys performed quite well in the second half. He added that, with four games still to go, there is enough time to iron out the weaknesses his young charges are still guilty of at times.
Lajong will next play Rangdajied United on February 26 in a match the Blues will host. SLFC beat Rangdajied 2-1 in the previous encounter.
Wahingdoh will travel to Guwahati to take on Green Valley on February 25, with the Assam team hoping to reverse their 2-0 defeat to the Royals.
Rangdajied play today
Meanwhile, Rangdajied will take on Green Valley in Guwahati on Wednesday at 2:00pm.
Both teams lost their opening games and the pressure will be on the RUFC boys to notch up their first victory of the tournament, a tough challenge away from home.