Clinical first half show seals game for hosts who beat Minerva 2-1
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC played out a perfect first home match of the season beating Minerva Punjab 2-1 in a Hero I-League match at the JN Stadium here on Saturday.
Rupert Nongrum (17’) and Aser Dipanda (42’) were the hero for the hosts who recorded their first points on the I-League table courtesy the win. Though Minerva struck one back through Loveday Okechukwu in the added time, it was too late in the day to make any difference to the outcome.
The victory also rocketed bottom-placed Lajong to the 7th spot in the standings thus setting the tempo for the four matches to follow in the weeks to come. New entrants Minerva, meanwhile, plunged to the 10th spot following the loss.
It was a perfect Meghalaya Day gift for the hundreds who turned up at the JN Stadium to witness the season’s first I-League encounter.
Lajong were clearly the better side who started pushing Minerva to back foot post the first 12 minutes of the game.
In the 16th minute Rupert Nongrum made a good run from the left to cross one inside and even though Loveday faltered at the back, Minerva were saved the blushes as their custodian came the rescue just on time.
The relief, however, was short-lived. A minute later Rupert collected a long ball upfront and fired it low past the Minerva keeper to get the elusive breakthrough for the hosts.
Five minutes later Nim Dorjee Tamang and Dipanda made a mess of a good chance at the front much to the dismay of Lajong gaffer Thangboi Singto.
Dipanda yet again missed an opportunity when he headed one off target from close range in the 28th minute. The missed chances, however, were building pressure on the visitors who looked completely out of sorts during the first half.
Dipanda’s efforts finally paid off in the 42nd minute thanks to a defensive lapse by Loveday at the back. The Cameroonian skewed the ball in for Lajong’s decisive second goal.
Crossing over, Minerva’s Ivan Flatov and Manandeep Singh were guilty of squandering potential conversion chances in the 57th and 58th minutes respectively.
However, Loveday pulled of a stunner from almost the centre pitch in the 90+ min to raise hopes of a Minerva comeback. Two minutes later Flatov’s header was brilliantly saved by Lajong custodian Vishal Kaith to deny an equaliser and ensure that Lajong take home their first full three points of the season.
Singto happy with win, but cautions boys for poor second half effort
A relieved Shillong Lajong coach Thangboi Singto praised his side’s youngsters for a good show, especially in the first half after his side’s maiden win of the Hero I-League 2016-17 season.
The Lajong gaffer, however, was not too impressed with the second half effort from his boys who he said seemed “tired or sloppy” in the last 45 minutes of the tie. “We should not have conceded that second half goal. We are capable of a much better show,” he said in the post match conference.
Singto, however, was all praise for the Lajong youngsters, who “delivered in the first home game’.
“The young boys got to grab the opportunity and they did exactly that today. Happy for Rupert (Nongrum) and Dicka (Aser Dipanda),” he added.