Shillong, August 13: Shillong Lajong FC booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Langsning FC in a Group E encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday. The result saw Shillong Lajong finish top of Group E with seven points, while Langsning ended their campaign in second place with five points.
Joao Vitor de Paula Morais, popularly known as Jota, scored twice for Shillong Lajong in the 26th and 30th minutes, while Everbrighton Sana added the third in the 83rd minute. Langsning FC mounted a spirited comeback through goals from Kyrmenskhem Mukhim in the 49th minute, Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem in the 63rd minute and Syed Ahmed in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
Shillong Lajong took the lead in the 26th minute after a defensive mix-up allowed Jota to collect the loose ball, drive into the box and calmly slot it past the goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Jota doubled the advantage after Everbrighton Sana produced a clever backheel to release him before the forward beat his marker and found the far corner.
Langsning refused to give up and reduced the deficit shortly after the restart. Chusrang Sangma delivered from the left for Mukhim, who headed home from close range in the 49th minute. The equaliser arrived in the 63rd minute when Denelson Pyngrope’s cross was met by a powerful header from Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem.
Shillong Lajong restored their lead in the 83rd minute when captain Kenstar Kharshong’s cross from the left found Sana unmarked at the far post, and his header beat Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh.
However, Langsning once again fought back. In the first minute of stoppage time, a short-corner move resulted in a cross from the right, and Syed Ahmed rose at the back post to head home the equaliser and complete a memorable comeback.
Despite Langsning’s late push for a winner, Shillong Lajong held on to secure the point they needed to finish at the top of Group E and qualify for the quarter-finals. Langsning’s strong performance, meanwhile, was not enough to take them into the knockout stage.
The result also confirmed East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC’s places in the quarter-finals as the two best second-placed teams, based on their superior goal-difference records.
