SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC rallied to hold Sporting Club de Goa 1-1 in a Hero I-League match at the Fatorda stadium in Margao on Saturday despite being reduced to ten men in the 50th minute.
Trinidad & Tobago duo of Cornell Glen and Anthony Wolfe scored a goal each for Shillong Lajong FC and Sporting Club de Goa respectively.
The Flaming Oranje had an early lead through Anthony Wolfe but Cornell Glen pulled the visitors level at the end of the first period. The second half saw Lajong’s Vishal Kaith sent off for handling outside the area before Joyner Laurenco was dismissed for the hosts in the latter stages of the game.
Wolfe scored the opening goal in the 4th minute but the visiting team could have equalised in the 7th minute when a Cornell Glen shot hit the upright.
Nevertheless, the home side enjoyed more possession and Odafa and Wolfe kept the Lajong back line on its toes.
Glen missed another opportunity in the 19th minute when he failed to find the back of the nets after dribbling past two defenders.
Glen was finally rewarded in the 42nd minute when he unleashed a shot that pierced into the nets.
Lajong were reduced to ten men in the early second half after their keeper Vishal Keith received a red card from referee Tanmoi Dhar for coming out of his charge and parried the ball to prevent Wolfe from scoring.
Keeper Kunzang Bhutia replaced David Ngaihte and the visitors pressed more men into defense. They did well in countering the rival strike force where Odafe came close to scoring once but was unlucky as his shot hit the cross bar.
Sporting, who pressed hard to score, too were reduced to ten men when defender Joyner Lourenco got his second card in the 78th minute for a foul on Penn Orji. Sporting’s Odafe, who worked hard upfront was declared the man of the match.
Sporting Club de Goa will play their next match on the 4th of April against local rivals Dempo while Shillong Lajong FC will travel to Mumbai to play their next match against Mumbai FC on the 3rd of April.
Lajong can’t affod to lose many from here considerign their position in the standings. (With inpuits from Agencies)
