Lajong Triumph Over Aizawl FC In The Northeast Derby

by FC Admin April 2, 2016

SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong prevailed over the debutants Aizawl FC in the remodelled Northeast Derby in the Hero I-League to soar up to the fourth position in the league table. The visitors drew the first blood in the first minute itself but the hommies regrouped pretty fast and thwacked back-to-back goals within 20 minutes another goal was nailed later in the first half to seal the victory, first against their newest rivals in the Hero I-League, that too in front of 8.5 thousand supporters.

The visitors, fresh from their scintillating victory over the leaders Mohun Bagan, started all guns blazing while Joel Sunday found the back of the net in the fist minute of the match. Before the crowd took their seat, the visitors earned their first corner and David lobbed it high over the Shillong Lajong defence. Vishal Kaiht threw himself out of the line and Joel Sunday tapped it home to score his third goal of the season.

Fabio Pena, Zodingliana, and Samuel Lalmuanpuia started to pass well and flooded the Aizawl FC box with a myriad of attacking moves. Finally, in the 17th minute, the lanky striker Fabio Pena headed the equaliser as Lalawmpuia was completely off his position. Just one minute later, Fabio Pena outran the Aizawl FC defenders, who were maintaining a high defense line, to steal his second goal from the right side of the 18-yard box. But the Reds got a shock just minutes later when Thangboi Singto had to withdraw Fabio Pena who was reeling from a groin injury.

Lalawmpuia had to stay on his toes to thwart Lajong’s several attempts to let the scoreline unchanged since then, but Samuel Lalmuanpuia doubled their lead just before the 40th minute as he volleyed home from 25 yards.
The Reds led their opponents 3-1 in the breather and the match was almost sealed.

The visitors’ steersman Jahar Das introduced the fresh pair of legs of Lalrinpuia at the expense of the skipper David Lalrinmuana after the hour-mark. Brandon, who had a dazzling game against Mohun Bagan, has been a coy customer tonight and Jahar Das had to switch him with Lalbiakhlua to introduce much-needed vitality in the attacking third but he also failed to pressurise the Lajong defenders who had shown their resilience upfront.

With the outright win tonight, Shillong Lajong jump to the fourth position in the league table with 14 points from 12 matches while Aizawl FC succumb to the eighth position, one spot below DSK Shivajians, with 12 points playing one match more.