Off-colour Lajong through to semis
The 31st Federation Cup witnessed an upheaval of sorts on Sunday after I-League debutants Shillong Lajong FC booked a semi-final berth ahead of Pune FC by virtue of more goals scored, reports Somshuvra Laha.
The 31st Federation Cup witnessed an upheaval of sorts on Sunday after I-League debutants Shillong Lajong FC booked a semi-final berth ahead of Pune FC by virtue of more goals scored. They couldn’t do justice to their flamboyance as they were held 1-1 by Pune FC in the first match of the day.
Although the two teams had the same points and goal difference (+1), the Shillong club was ahead having scored five goals to Pune FC’s four.
Air India still had a chance of going through, but their 0-2 loss to Dempo in the final Group D encounter put paid to those hopes. Lajong FC knew they had to score early to assert themselves. But they failed to come up with an early goal in the face of some dogged defending by the opposition. Pune FC goalkeeper Subrata Pal was exceptional with his anticipation and with the industrious Selwyn Fernandes manning the central defence, Lajong FC found it hard to break through.
The much-celebrated duo of Anil Gurung and Seikhohau Tuboi couldn’t stitch their moves together and were also guilty of missing opportunities, which were rare compared to their previous matches. Their lack of height, too, proved to be vital as Tuboi and Gurung were overpowered in air.
Lajong FC scored around the half-hour mark when Tuboi's long throw-in was received by Gurung and his attempted backheel fortunately reached Kirshan Lynshing, who sliced the ball past Pal.
Finally, a win for Dempo
It was redemption time for last-edition’s finalists Dempo, who won their first match here.
Medio Peter Carvalho opened the account in the 21st minute when he headed in Marcus Peixoto’s neat cross from the left.
India midfielder Climax Lawrence doubled the lead off a rebound in the 86th minute after Air India goalkeeper Kunal Sawant parried Joaquim Abranches’s first shot.