Shillong, February 14 : Shillong Lajong FC put four unanswered goals past Sreenidi Deccan FC and take the three points in their I-
League 2024-25 game at the SSA Stadium on February 14, 2025.
Lajong had come into the game as the most prolific scorers in the league and their performance burgeoned
those credentials. Sreenidi’s mini revival, where they had lost once in the last seven matches, came to an end
though and they will reflect on the fact that they have now conceded nine goals in two encounters against
Lajong this season.
Despite facing a highly partisan crowd, Sreenidi Deccan were the ones who dominated the first half,
controlling the possession in midfield even without actually making inroads with the ball in the final third.
The hosts for their part were playing mostly on the counter, often using set pieces to trouble Sreenidi’s
defence.
The first chance fell to Sreenidi in the 5th minute when William Alves cut the ball back towards the penalty
spot from the left. A deflection took it to the feet of Lalromawia, whose first time shot bounced off the
crossbar. It was the closest Sreenidi would come to troubling Lajong’s goal.
In the 40th minute, Lajong got the breakthrough in the simplest way imaginable. A long ball from the back
split the Sreenidi defence, leaving Phrangki Buam virtually one-on-one with the goalkeeper Aryan Lamba
inside the box. Lamba brought him down after he’d been dribbled past, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Marcos Rudwere made no mistake from the spot, scoring to give his side the lead.
Sreenidi’s profligacy with possession continued into the second half, and Lajong, happy to keep working the
set pieces, made them pay for it eventually. In the 70th minute, an unmarked Daniel Gonçalves headed wide
from a Lajong corner. It was a sign of things to come. Within a minute Lajong had another corner. This time,
Gonçalves, headed the ball down, into the path of Rudwere, who smashed it in from five yards to double
Lajong’s lead.
Kenstar Kharshong added a third in the 88th minute with a glancing header following a corner. There was
more agony in store for the visitors, when they conceded a penalty in injury time. Renan Paulino put the spot
kick away to make it four goals and three points for Lajong.
With this win Lajong have moved to 5th position on the points table with 22 points and only 5 points
separating them from Churchill Brothers who are currently top of the table.Lajong will now play Dempo SC away from home on February 19 at 4:30 pm in Fatorda Stadium, Goa.
