Shillong, Feb. 2: Shillong Lajong FC broke their jinx of draw at home and piped United Sikkim FC 2-1 in their 19th match of the I-League at the J. N. Sports Complex here on Saturday.
This is the first win for Shillong Lajong in 11 matches. They last won against Prayag United in their eighth match. Since then they had to suffer four defeats and managed to draw six games. With this win, Lajong have 16 points from 18 matches.
After a barren first half, it was the team from Sikkim who broke the deadlock when Linkekar Machado tapped home a cross from Ashish Chettri in the 66th minute. However, in the 81st minute of the game, Lajong drew parity when substitute P. C. Lalhlimthara gently headed home a Sho Kamimura cross.
Like in the last match when they managed an extra time goal to draw against Air India, the added minutes came to the aid of the Shillong team when referee Raktim Saha of Tripura awarded a free kick to the home side after USFC’s Pablo Rodriguez brought down Sushil Singh outside the box. Samson Ramengmawaia free kick found man-of-the-match Taisuke Matsugae through Sushil’s head and he made no mistake by gently tapping home the winner.
Later, talking to reporters, USFC coach Nathan Hall said: “I am very upset with the referring… Refereeing has been a concern in the I-League. We can do nothing about it but keep mum”. Aware that his comments could land him in trouble, the Australian coach, however, said: “I will not mind if I get penalized for what I have said. The last free kick was really uncalled for”.
Lajong coach Thangboi Singto said he was satisfied with the result. He, too, took a dig at the referee. “We deserved to win. We (however) were deprived of three penalty kicks,” he said. (By Our Reporter).
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