Lajong thrash Aizawl 3-1

SHILLONG: Hosts Shillong Lajong FC overturned an early goal to score three in the first half itself and win 3-1 against Aizawl FC in an I-League match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday night. The win could not have come at a better time for the hosts who moved up to 4th position with 14 points from 12 matches dismissing their relegation scares for now. Aizawl, meanwhile, have much to ponder about as they dropped down three positions to second last place, with 12 points on board. Forward Fabio Pena scored a brace in 17th and 18th minutes respectively and midfielder Samuel Lalmuanpuia put in another one in the 37th minute for the hosts. The lone scorer from Aizawl FC was Joel Sunday who opened the score sheet of the match as early as the 2nd minute. The match began on a bright note for the visitors who won a corner in the very first minute. Aizawl were gifted an opener in the second minute when Lajong custodian Vishal Kaith failed to collect efficiently a corner. The rebound fell kindly for Sunday who tapped into an empty net. The dream start was a pleasing sight for the visiting fans, who had turned out in great numbers to support their team. The moment though was short lived as in the 17th minute a rebound from a strong effort from Penn Orji found the Brazilian striker Fabio Pena inside the box, who made no mistake to head the ball home. The equaliser was much needed as the visitors had just begun to get their stronghold on the game’s proceedings. A minute later, Pena put Lajong in front with a powerful drive into the far right corner of the net. If that was not enough Lajong’s third goal scored by Samuel Lalmuanpuia destroyed the visitor’s hopes of winning the North East derby. Pena was Lajong’s star player as he inspired the team after conceding an early goal. In the second half the Reds tried their level best to get more goals on the score sheet but their efforts were denied well by the visitors. Aizawl themselves had a sketchy match having turned on the gas and then turned it off right when Lajong were feeling the pressure. The small bit of pressure from the visitors was outperformed by a formidable display from Lajong’s goalkeeper Vishal Kaith as he got down low and fast to prevent a sharp shot by Joel Sunday from the left side of the box and punched it away for a corner in the 67th minute. The game went into frenzy towards the end as the Aizawl defense kept hurrying long balls towards their attackers who could not create any clear opportunities to at least get a goal back in the match. The final whistle blew much to the home crowd’s content as Lajong pulled off a brilliant derby win in their den.