EMN
Dimapur, December 21
Shillong Lajong FC pull out a brilliant display again at home, beating Dempo SC by a scoreline of 2-1 in a round 16 encounter at the JN Stadium Shillong on Saturday.Lajong are now on a seven home game unbeaten streak after a Milan Singh penalty and a Boithang freekick was good enough to grab the win for the hosts. The match started with possesional football from both sides as both teams struggled to find their pace in chilly winter conditions. Taisuke Matsugae almost gave his side the lead in the 22nd minute when his header from a corner seared over the bar. The Dempo backline was put to the test again in the 37th minute when Taisuke made another good run in the box only for the ball to be handled by the opposition defender. Referee Ajit Datta awarded The Reds a penalty which was clinically converted by Ongnam Milan Singh in the 39th minute. Shillong Lajong held on to the lead until the half time whistle as both teams remained slightly in the balance.
The added advantage gave Lajong a much needed boost as they started the second half with one chance after another. Dempo custodian Laxmikant Katimani was kept busy throughout the second half as he made a lot of saves to deny Lajong their second. It was however the Goan side that found the equaliser in the 56th minute after Jeje Lalpekhlua made a good run past the Lajong backline and snuck one past Shillong Lajong’s keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte into the side netting. The game remained even for only a shortwhile as Lajong got back in the lead in the 60th minute. A free kick from Boithang Haokip missed all heads in the box and went pass the hands of Dempo’s Katimani as well and into the net. The goal sent Lajong into an attacking frenzy as they look to kept scoring more.
Dempo found a bit of their spark in the latter stages of the second half as they created chances but all their trials went in vain as the final whistle went in Lajong’s favour.
With the win Shillong Lajong FC have beaten Dempo SC in both successions, beating them by an even impressive scoreline of 3-0 back in Goa. Today’s win keeps Lajong at 4th position with 23 points from 15 games whereas Dempo SC stay in 9th position with 16 points from 15 games.
It is a proud moment for the biggest club in the North East as they reached a big milestone in the social media front, having crossed one lakh likes on their official Facebook page making them No.3 in the country ( Indian football professional club page) in terms of most number of likes and No.1 in the North East.
