SHILLONG, SEPT 29: Shillong Lajong FC and the Pune FC second round I-League encounter on Sunday at the JN Stadium ended in a goalless draw with each team sharing a point each.
Playing before the home crowd Lajong had a late kick-off and started its campaign against its opponent in right earnest pushing the Lizards on their back foot early on in the game. However Pune FC showed the grit to stave off the pressure from the Reds with really some good defensive play, with Callum James marshalling the backline to perfection.
On the other side of the half, Minchol Son and his posse were equally at ease against the Pune attackers, even as both teams went into the lemon break without disturbing the net. The home team though had a couple of cautions awarded in the first half-Cornell Glen in the 29th minute, and Boithang Haokip in the 31st minute.
Crossing over, both the teams looked content in keeping the ball, and neither looked likely to score. However the Lajong fans, ,unmindful of the fact that the game did not produced a goal till that point rallied on behind the Reds, cheering every move forward and singing the team on, amidst the pouring rain.
Uilliams Silva was also cautioned in the 72nd minute, and as the game dragged on, Pune FC made a couple of changes, with Haokip replacing Rocha in the 81st minute and Anthony coming in for Nikhil in the 88th minute. Thangboi Singto though, kept his substitutions in the sidelines as the game looked destined to head towards a tame draw.
And that was exactly the case after 90 minutes of an evening of calculated football from both teams. The Reds are now on 4 points from two games and will face Sporting Clube De Goa at home on October 5.-By Our Reporter
Rangdajied Vrs Bengaluru FC
BENGALURU, SEPT 29: Rangdajied United suffered the second straight defeat of their debut I-League campaign on Sunday as they were beaten by Bengaluru FC 3-0 at the Bangalore Football Stadium. John Johnson, Sean Rooney and Sunil Chhetri were the goal scorers for the home side.
Rangdajied United coach Santosh Kashyap made four changes to the lineup that started in the 2-0 loss to United SC in the opening weekend as young striker Sandesh Gadkari found himself on the bench while Senegalese defender Lamine Tamba wasn’t in the match squad at all.
Sambhu Mistry started in goal in place of Surjay Pariyar while Ambilstar Sunn, Thomas Saikhom and T Lalnunpuia got into the team as well.
Despite the changes in the team, Rangdajied United failed to make a positive start with their only real effort in the first quarter of the game being a snapshot from Japanese Yohei Iwasaki which went off target.
At the other end Sambhu Mistry was kept busy by the Bengaluru FC attack as the Rangdajied goalkeeper had to make a couple of important saves to preserve his team’s clean sheet. The home team also had a goal disallowed as Australian Sean Rooney was adjudged offside despite putting the ball into the back of the net.
Bengaluru FC’s pressure eventually paid off as former Middlesbrough defender Johnson headed home Beikhokhei Beingaichho’s corner to put the home team in front. Rangdajied tried to respond but were unable to create any clear opportunity for the remainder of the first half.
The Shillong club had a golden opportunity to equalise at the start of the second period when Brazilian Edmar Figueira found himself free in the Bengaluru box but his effort was saved by Pawan Kumar.
The visitors had started the second half well but Bengaluru soon doubled their advantage as Rooney slotted home Beingaichho’s well-measured low cross much to the delight of the home fans.
Coach Kashyap introduced Laldingn Gheta in place of Lalnunpuia as Rangdajied tried to increase the intensity in order to come back into the contest. They enjoyed a decent spell, winning a couple of corners but couldn’t test Bengaluru custodian Pawan Kumar.
At the other end, India captain Sunil Chhetri killed the game off by netting the third. The Bengaluru skipper rounded off a fine counter attack to make it 3-0 to the hosts.
There was no way back for Rangdajied after that and unfortunately they didn’t look like scoring a consolation also. Even the late introductions of Bansharai Sunn and Sandesh Gadkari didn’t help matters.
After two difficult away games where most of the players struggled to cope with the humidity of Kolkata and Bangalore, Rangdajied United will enjoy home comforts next week as they host their first-ever I-League match against five-time record Indian champions Dempo.
Rangdajied United lineup: Sambhu Mistry; Poibang Poshna, Thomas Saikhom, Pratik Chowdhury, Elam Abocha Singh, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Ambilstar Sunn (Sandesh Gadkari 87) Yohei Iwasaki, (Bansharai Sunn 78), Edmar Figueira, Restomwell Khriam, T Lalnunpuia (Laldingngheta 57).- By Our Reporter
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