Shillong, oct 22: The Shillong Lajong FC lost their opening game of the U-18 Youth League Zonal Round against Langsning FC at the MFA Ground today. Damonlang Pathaw scored the solitary goal in the 40th minute of the game.
Defending Champions, Shillong Lajong were playing with a fresh new batch of youngsters from the Academy today and their first chance at goal came as early as in the 9th minute when Solomon took a shot from outside the box but Langsning keeper was alert and saved it from entering the net for a corner.
In the 20th minute, Lajong came close again to break the deadlock but Remark’s shot went inches wide of the right post. Langsning FC, however, took the lead when Damonlang Pathaw netted in the 40th minute. After the break, Shillong Lajong’s Remark tried to level the scoreline but his close-range effort was denied by the keeper in the 47th minute.
The Reds kept surging ahead for the equaliser and were making good moves in the 69th minute from the center of the park. Freestar with a good ball fed Remark at the center and he passed it back to Freestar who made a good run inside the box and shoots but the Langsning custodian comes forward to collect it before it could get past him.
In the 75th minute of the game, Lajong were once again very close to making it all square when Baiakara, Freestar, Apbor and Remark were combining well with each other but the opponent’s defence surrounded them and ensured they didn’t get past their keeper.
Shafique shoots in the added time but it went straight to the keeper and Lajong were unable to find the back of the net in today’s game. Shillong Lajong will need to step up their game in their net match against GTC on 27th October in Guwahati at 2:30PM.
