I-League: Shillong Lajong win 3-2 away at Mumbai FC

Shillong Lajong FC made it two away wins in a row after they beat Mumbai FC 3-2 at the Balewadi Sports Complex inPune in a Round 6 match of the I-League. Goals for Shillong Lajong FC came from Taisuke Matsugae and a brace from man of the match Cornell Glen whereas Mumbai FC had Sandjar Ahmadi and Ritesh Perambara on the score sheet.

Shillong Lajong could not have wished for a better start then Taisuke Matsugae opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a brilliant individual display exposing the Mumbai FC backline as he went passed both Nicholas Rodrigues and Ritesh Perambara before putting the ball in the bottom corner past Mumbai FC custodian Kunal Sawant. But the hosts quickly got back on level terms in the 15th minute after Kamaljit Kumar delivered a beautiful through ball to Afghanistan international Sandjar Ahmadi who then put his shot past Lajong goalkeeper Vinay Singh in the back of the net.

Both teams couldn’t hold possession, made sloppy passes, even though there were little sparkling attacking plays at both ends of the pitch. Saikhohau Tuboi could have put the visitors in front again but he missed a sitter from just outside the six yard box after Sawant spilled Boithang Haokip‘s thunderous strike. The first half ended 1-1 as both teams tried to put pressure on each other after Ahmadi’s strike.

The second half started the same way it ended in the first half with both teams creating chances. It was the 59th minute for Lajong FC to get back infront after Cornell Glen swept past defender Anwar who could not catch up to Glen’s run after which the Trinidad and Tobago international’s shot flew into the net even though Kunal Sawant could have done better. After this goal the game was one-sided as Lajong FC kept on pressing, looking for their third goal and they were rewarded in the 78th minute when Glen found his second. A defensive mistake from Ashutosh Mehta was capitalised by Cornell Glen who exposed Anwar once again to get Lajong’s third. Cornell Glen could have finished with a hattrick but Kunal Sawant did well to come off his line to stop Subash Singh’s cross. The game took its toll on substitute Haroon Amiri of Mumbai FC in which he was sent off after he threw a punch at Lajong captain Minchol Son. The game thereafter turned ugly towards the end and Mumbai FC then managed to scare the visiting team through a goal in the 92nd minute from Ritesh Perambara, but it was all too late as the match ended in the visitor’s favour.

Match official Anthony Elvis had a busy day on the pitch having to control the mid-table clash between the two teams in which Jibon Singh, Anwar and Zodingliana received a booking, while Haroon Amiri was sent off.

With this win The Reds move up into 5th place with eight points from six games and Mumbai FC stay in 6th position with six points from 6 games.