The Reds give up the lead to lose 1-2 against NorthEast United
Shillong, Jan 15: Shillong Lajong FC are out of the running for a place in the Super Cup semifinals after they lost their second consecutive group match, this time to NorthEast United FC.
Lajong had taken the lead in the first half of the Group B fixture only to see NorthEast score twice in the second half to take the match 2-1.
SLFC had lost their opening match to Kerala Blasters 3-1, while the Highlanders went down 2-1 to Jamshedpur FC.
Only the top team from the group will qualify for the semifinals.
On Monday, coach Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet made two changes from that first Lajong match, starting with Saveme Tariang and Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem in place of Allen Lyngdoh Nongbri and Abdou Karim Samb respectively. The gaffer was forced to make an early substitution after Kynsaibor Lhuid was injured, with Hardy Cliff Nongbri taking his spot.
Douglas Tardin, Lajong’s new Brazilian recruit, then scored in the 17th minute to put the I-League side in front and the team held on to that slender lead going into the break.
After the restart, NorthEast United scored the equaliser in the 60th minute through their Spanish forward Nestor Albiach, and it did not take long for Nestor to double his tally when he converted his goal through a controversial penalty kick and put NorthEast United ahead in the 66th minute.
It was not the friendliest match between the two sides, with five of the ISL club’s players going into the referee’s book but it ended in NorthEast United’s favour and they will be happy to get a victory under their belts.
Lajong will face Jamshedpur in their final group game on January 20, at 2PM.