Dull derby ensures Blues vital point
SHILLONG: Rangdajied United FC did what they had to do when they came away from the second Shillong I-League derby with one point after a dreary, goalless draw against Shillong Lajong FC at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Monday afternoon.
In what was a very convenient result, the one point ensured that Rangdajied avoided relegation in their maiden season in the top tier, ending with 25 points from 24 matches; it is now irrelevant to the Blues what happens in Mohammedan Sporting’s final game on April 27.
It was a near-packed house at the JN Stadium despite the three o’clock kick-off, but the many fans were treated to performances from both teams that was far below their best.
There was some action in the first half, although not until around 30 minutes into the game when Subash Singh struck a left-footer into the side of the net.
The only real shot on target in the entire match came in the 41st minute with a blast from Uilliams Souza Silva going low past a number of Rangdajied defenders before Rehenesh TP managed to put it out for a corner.
The boys in Blue had what could have turned into a good chance two minutes later had it not been for Kim Song Yong’s slippery feet.
The ball was lobbed deep and Kim was alert, getting well away from any marker.
With just the keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte to beat, the Korean’s boots let him down and he lost control of the ball by taking a rather embarrassing slip.
The second half was much like the first, even though Rangdajied made two attacking substitutions, bringing on T Lalnunpuia for Munmun Lugun and David Ngaihte for Steven Dias.
SLFC also made a couple of changes, substituting Durga Boro for Seikhohao Tuboi and Milan Singh for Uilliams.
Kim looked the most energetic of the players, but was not able to create any magic on the pitch.
Both teams played very safely, with the action confined to the mid-field. Careless errors did not help things, either, with both squads guilty of losing the ball too easily.
Lajong kept the dangerous Ranti Martins in check, and this was the first game in RUFC colours in which the Nigerian did not score.
The game meandered along until the end, but the Rangdajied players and fans were at least pleased that they have lived to fight for another season.
RUFC assistant coach Khlain Syiemlieh said he was “happy with the result”.
Speaking at the post match press conference he added, “Our objective was a win or a draw and we were content with holding Lajong in our own half.”
The SLFC gaffer Thangboi Singto, for his part, described the performance as “disappointing”.
The Blues have thus become the first club to finish their quota of 24 matches in the season and it has taken a tremendous fight by them to survive what has been the closest year of the I-League.
Newly-promoted teams have tended to struggle in their debut seasons and that was no different for Rangdajied.
Shillong Lajong know a thing or two about how challenging it can be to play in the big leagues, having been relegated at the end of 2009-10, which was their maiden effort.
Lajong managed to earn 26 points from 26 matches that season, falling just a couple of points short of avoiding the drop zone.
Monday’s 0-0 result means that no team has yet won a Shillong derby, with bragging rights transferred to next season, which will feature a third local team – Second Division champions Royal Wahingdoh FC – and perhaps another year of excellent competition.
I-League 2013-14
Team P W L D GF GA Pts
Bengaluru FC 23 13 5 5 41 26 44
East Bengal 23 11 5 7 36 23 40
Salgaocar FC 23 11 7 5 33 26 38
Sporting Clube de Goa 23 9 7 7 33 32 34
Shillong Lajong FC 23 8 6 9 34 35 33
Dempo SC 23 8 7 8 28 25 32
Pune FC 23 8 8 7 30 28 31
Mumbai FC 23 5 5 13 30 30 28
United SC 23 5 7 11 22 28 26
Rangdajied United FC 24 6 11 7 29 38 25
Mohun Bagan 23 5 8 10 21 23 25
Churchill Brothers 23 5 11 7 23 37 22
Mohammedan Sporting 23 5 12 6 25 34 21