Match Report: Shillong Lajong FC Vs Bengaluru FC
Source: Shillong Lajong FC *
Shillong, March 02 2016:
Shillong Lajong FC succumbed to their first home defeat this season after Udanta Singh and Kim Song Yong helped the visitors to their first victory over Shillong Lajong on home soil with a scoreline of 0-2 .
The game was well poised with the rains having come down and condition the turf for the much anticipated match between Shillong Lajong and Bengaluru FC.
Both the teams never really look like they were at their strengths as the play was more dominated in midfield.
The Reds had a few chances in the first half as well as the Blues from Bengaluru.
The home side had a fair bit of good play in the 29th minute as Rupert went marauding down the right flank but the winger's cross was intercepted right in front of Fabio Pena who looked open on goal.
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The match went on with both teams happy to play out the first half and just test each other out.
That was the nature of the match until the 35th minute.
A simple long ball free kick from Curtis Osano met Kim Yong Song's header who flicked it back to Udanta Singh and the U-22 striker lashed his first shot which was blocked but the rebound fell kindly to him and he made sure the ball found the back of the net.
Lajong custodian Vishal Kaith though impressive in the match thus far failed to keep Udanta's shot away as the visitors got their lead.
The Lajong keeper had to remain alert again in the 43rd minute to punch away an almost certain second goal from a Sunil Chettri free kick that flew right at the top corner but Vishal Kaith was too good to let that one pass through.
Though the home side tried to find a way to pierce through Bengaluru's compact defense the half time whistle blew with much of the work still left for Thangboi Singto's men.
Lajong went pouncing on in the second half looking to find the equaliser as early as the first minute of the second half itself.
Lajong won two consecutive corners after the play managed to reach the by line from kick off.
The first was blocked away for another corner and the second one met a couple of deflections in the box and the rebound fell to Samuel Lalmuanpuia's feet and the striker adjusted his body well to open a shot which hit the middle of the crossbar and come back out into the keeper's hands.
That was the closest they have come to scoring throughout the entire match.
Luck though did not favour the home side as the match again was battled in midfield with no clear enough events in the final third.
The Reds again found their mettle in the 68th minute after a brilliant bit of play from Penn Orji was followed by an exquisite pass from the Nigerian into Fabio and the Brazilian sent the defender one way and turn to shoot the other way but Bengaluru FC custodian Amrinder Singh stood firm and pushed the shot away for a corner.
The game was well contested as we approached the final quarter of the game but it was the visitors who found the back of the net once again in the 82nd minute.
This time it was a Kim Song Yong backheader from a well taken Udanta Singh corner.
The second goal seemed to have removed the spirits from the home side to try and get anything out of the match.
Bengaluru's well worked shape in defence was not penetrated as the final whistle with much of the despair for the home side who succumbed to their first ever home defeat against Bengaluru FC.
* The sender of this news can be contacted at media(at)shillonglajong(doT)com .