Bengaluru frustrated again in Shillong
a Bengaluru FC player in an I-League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Sunday.
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC returned to the JN Stadium, Polo, on Sunday for their first I-League home match in three months with an uplifting 3-0 victory over Bengaluru FC.
After a first half of rather disappointing football, the match sprung to life in the second with Uilliams Souza Silva scoring the opener for the hosts and Cornell Glen providing another two later on. Two of the visitors were also sent off with straight red cards, including goalkeeper Pawan Kumar.
Uilliams’ goal briefly saw him equal Glen on seven League goals for the season, before his team mate’s brace saw the Trinidadian take his tally to nine with four matches to go.
The first 45 minutes were characterised by long balls from both teams that went nowhere on a cold day with the ground still wet from the showers of a few hours earlier.
There was some good action in the first session, with Boithang Haokip delivering a low corner kick early on, but Redeem Tlang’s smart flick went out off a Bengaluru player.
If the first half was poor, the same could not be said for the second.
Uilliams lifted his team mates and the large crowd with his goal 50 seconds after the restart.
Minchol Son passed the ball to Glen, who was stationed on the right, and the striker then produced a measured ball forward for the Brazilian. Uilliams’ job was made a little difficult by an awkward bounce, but he muscled the ball across the line off the crossbar.
Although the table toppers also improved the quality of their football, their efforts were stymied by the Reds.
Formidable players like Sunil Chhetri, Sean Rooney and former SLFC man Johnny Menyongar made little impact.
The hosts’ double arrived in the 81st minute when Bengaluru’s defence broke down.
Usually very well marked by the bulky Curtis Osano, Glen weaved his way into the box past a couple of defenders and neatly placed the ball past Kumar.
Things then went from bad to worse for the table toppers. Attempting to clear the ball outside the box, Kumar was found guilty of handling the ball and was sent off with a red. Rooney then made way for substitute keeper Soram Anganba.
BFC were soon reduced to nine men after a mix-up between Anganba and Osano.
Trying to underarm it to the defender, substitute Seikhohao Tuboi was alert to the opportunity, steamed in and stole the ball away. A foul in the box then saw Osano given his marching orders and Glen converted the resulting penalty to bring the match to a close.
This was Lajong’s biggest margin of victory since beating Dempo 3-0 in their very first match of the season.
The win also helped them take back fifth place in the standings from Dempo. They are now tied with Sporting Clube de Goa on 29 points, but are behind the fourth-placed team after losing two fixtures against them.
SLFC will next host Mumbai FC on March 30.