Sho fashions lucky Shillong Lajong escape

SHILLONG,JAN 28: A brace from Sho Kamimura helped Shillong Lajong FC split points with Air India in their 18^thmatch of the 2012-2013 I-League campaign that was played at JN Sports Complex here on Monday.

In a game that was dominated by the team from Pune, the local outfit was lucky to escape with a draw, thanks to man-of-the-match Sho. It was the Airmen who took the lead when Henry Ezeh headed home a long throw-in by Rahul Bheke in the 16^th minute with the Lajong custodian Lalthuammawia Ralte barely able to react.

Sho, however, restored parity in the 37th minute when his crisp half-volley found the net. Thereafter, it was the Airmen all the way, as they made repeated forays into Lajong territory. In the 64^th minute, Prakash Thorat converted a Gagandeep Singh cross to put Air India 2-1 ahead. They again came very close to scoring in the 81^st minute, but the crossbar came to their rescue. A firm shot by EO Junior beat Ralte, but the ball rebounded into play after hitting the inner edge of the bar.

Even as the game entered the dying minutes and the home supporters were resigned to seeing their team lose yet again, Sho came to the rescue with an added minute goal.

With this draw, Lajong inched to 16 points while Air India are a point adrift at 15. However, the Airmen have played two games fewer. (By Our Reporter)