Shillong, September 1: It was cheers for the Lajong fans as the home team Shillong Lajong Football Club (SLFC) showed what many had always believed, the ability to take head-on even the strongest of opponent and Saturday’s match against the New Zealand based team Wellington Phonex was a case in point as it defeated the tourist 3-2 in a pulsating match.
The match between Shillong Lajong FC and Wellington Phonex FC was heart-thumping of all the matches of the Northeast Lajong Super Series. Just five minutes into play, the visitor however looked at the top when Jeremy Brockie headed home Alex Smith’s free-kick giving an early lead to the tourist.
But this was short lived as the visitor looked agape when Friday Gbeneme, who was later adjusted man of the series, took a powerful shot at the ball which found the net after he had intercepted a miss-pass by Benj in the twenty six minutes of the first half giving an equalizer to Lajong.
Looking to consolidate its position the home team, Lajong Friday gave the home side a lead when he converted the minus ball of Samuel Shadap into a goal five minutes later.
Till the breather Lajong were leading 2-1. Soon after changing side the tourist build up pressure over the men in reds and Lajong immediately went on defensive. The pressure by Wellington Phonex paid off when in the 62nd minute they were succeed in creating a penalty after referee Ajit Meiti caught Govin Singh handling the ball inside the goal arena. Taking the spot kick Paul Ifill made no mistake and he pumped home an equaliser for his team.
However, in the 80 minutes Boithang Haokip converted the back pass from Sushil Kumar Singh and scored the winning goal for the home team and ensured the first title of the season to Shillong Lajong.
Lajong’s victory is partly because of its custodian Lalthuammawia Ralte who had gala time under the wood work as he saved a couple of goals from hitting the net. –By Suraj Joshi
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