Shillong, Apr 21:Langsning FC could not maintain their undefeated run in away games as they lost 1-0 to Chennaiyin FC reserves in their Second Division League Group C match at the SSN College Ground in Chennai on Saturday.
The hosts’ captain Bedashwor Singh volleyed the ball for a goal in the 68th minute to net Chennaiyin reserves their first points of the campaign.
Langsning made two changes to the starting line-up, bringing back DonladDiengdoh and LancineToure in place of Sameer Pradhan and RyogaKatsurashima;the latter two had both made their debuts in the 1-1 draw in Shillong against Mohammedan Sporting on April 13.
Pradhan was used as a substitute in today’s game, along with MilancyKhongstia and RonaldkydonLyngdohNonglait.
Langsning had won their first away fixture at Jamshedpur FC reserves 3-1 before drawing 0-0 with Mohammedan Sporting, but though they were in the hunt this time around they could not find a way through the young Chennaiyin defence in the hot and humid conditions, which saw the temperature hit 38 degrees for the 4:00pm kick-off.
Victory gave Chennaiyin their first points after having lost all of their previous six games.
Although a setback in their campaign to reach the final round of the Second Division, all is not lost as it was a day of shocks for the other two teams hoping to make it through.
First, in Imphal TRAU FC were defeated by Bengaluru FC reserves 2-1, while Jamshedpur FC reserves held off Mohammedan in a 1-1 draw in Jamshedpur even though the former were reduced to 10 men in the first half itself.
Saturday’s results mean that Bengaluru move to the top of the Group C standings, tied with TRAU on 11 points, but with a better head-to-head record as their previous meeting had ended in a draw.
Third-placed Mohammedan now have 9 points, the same as Langsning, but are in front on goal difference (+2 compared to +1) and also have a game in hand, so the Shillong team need to start scoring goals more regularly if they are to make a play for a place in the final round, which will see the top two clubs (not including the ISL reserve sides, who are ineligible) from each group progress.
Langsning stay on the road and travel on from Chennai to nearby Bangalore to take on the Bengaluru reserves on April 25.
