SHILLONG: Try as they might, Shillong Lajong FC could not end their best ever season in the I-League on a winning note as they went down to Mohun Bagan 2-1 in Kolkata on Sunday evening.
Pankaj Moula put Bagan in front early on and the Kolkata side could and should have led by more at the interval but their finishing was wasteful.
Lajong equalised at the hour-mark through substitute Boithang Haokip but Christopher Chizoba ensured three points for the hosts with an excellent solo goal 15 minutes later.
The Reds thus end their 24-game season on 33 points with eight victories, which is their best ever result on both counts.
They are currently in fifth place, but may lose that spot depending on Dempo, in sixth, who will play at Pune FC on Monday.
No matter where they end up, this season has been a resounding success for SLFC; in none of their previous three campaigns have they had it so good.
The first team from Shillong in the I-League never dropped below eighth place at any time during the year and were thus never in danger of being relegated, which was a constant fear for the fans in previous years.
So, a loss on Sunday following a despondent draw against Rangdajied United last Monday can be forgiven them.
The Mariners started brightly and opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Ujjwal Howlader latched on to a loose ball following a tussle between Yusa Katsumi and Jibon Singh and crossed for Moula, who volleyed home.
It was all Mohun Bagan for the first quarter of the game as they kept getting behind the Lajong defence with ease but their finishing lacked quality.
Bagan’s Katsumi went clean through on goal on one occasion but Lajong custodian Lalthuammawia Ralte quickly came out of his goal and cleared the ball.
Lajong finally came to life after the half-hour mark with Seikhohao Tuboi creating an opening for Cornell Glen, who could only hit his shot straight at Shilton Paul.
A few minutes later, a long ball from the back completely caught out the Mohun Bagan defence with Glen free and with only Shilton to beat but the Trinidad attacker uncharacteristically blasted his effort over the bar.
The North East club equalised in the second half when Taisuke Matsugae sent Boithang through with a nice flick and the substitute produced an acrobatic smash for the goal.
One-all was not a true reflection of the game but the green-and-maroon brigade came back strongly.
The hosts regained the lead after a moment of individual brilliance from Chizoba. The Nigerian went past a couple of Lajong defenders in an amazing solo run before finding the back of the net with a clinical finish.
There were very few chances for either team in the final 10 minutes but Bagan looked more likely to score again.
Lajong’s best opportunity came from a Milan Singh free kick in stoppage time but Minchol Son headed wide as Karim Bencherifa’s side held on for the victory
I-League 2013-14
Team P W L D GF GA Pts
Bengaluru FC 23 13 5 5 40 27 44
East Bengal 23 11 5 7 36 23 40
Salgaocar FC 23 11 6 6 35 23 39
Sporting Clube de Goa 23 9 7 7 33 32 34
Shillong Lajong FC 24 8 7 9 35 37 33
Dempo SC 23 8 7 8 28 25 32
Pune FC 23 7 8 8 28 29 29
Mumbai FC 24 5 6 13 31 32 28
Mohun Bagan 24 6 8 10 23 24 28
United SC 23 5 7 11 22 29 26
Rangdajied United FC 24 6 11 7 29 38 25
Mohammedan Sporting 24 6 12 6 27 35 24
Churchill Brothers 23 5 11 7 23 36 22
