Mohammedan Sporting’s long wait to win their maiden I-League title finally came to an end tonight at First Ground, Polo, here as they defeated Shillong Lajong FC 2-1.
The Black and White Brigade thus secured promotion to the Indian Super League provided they meet the licensing criteria.
The side from Kolkata have now garnered an unassailable 52 points from 23 matches; their closest rivals, Sreenidi Deccan FC, are 8 points behind with two games to play.
Alexis Nahuel Gomez scored in the very first minute for the ultimate champions, as Douglas Rosa Tardin equalised in the 15th minute via a penalty for the home team. Evgeni Kozlov (63′) then scored the winner for Mohammedan in the second half to secure the title. The trophy presentation will take place after the Black Panthers’ last match, against Delhi FC at their home ground next Saturday.
The equation was simple – Mohammedan Sporting needed one point to secure their maiden I-League title but it was never going to be a walk in the park.
Lajong have had their moments this season but are firmly rooted as a mid-table side at seventh in the I-League table with 31 points from 23 games. But their added motivation to play spoilsport against the top dogs was on ample display.
Coach Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet made four changes to the starting XI that lost to Delhi last week. In came Ronney Kharbudon, Damaitphang Lyngdoh, Renan Paulino de Souza and Douglas Tardin and out went Saveme Tariang, Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Ronaldkydon Lyngdoh Nonglait and Kynsaibor Lhuid.
Mohammedan Sporting, for their part, did the bit that would have calmed their nerves, at least in the opening exchanges. Their Argentine forward Alexis Gomez produced a moment of magic in the first minute itself, when he spotted Lajong keeper Neithovilie Chalieu off his line, and chopped it goalwards from just inside the halfway mark, as the ball sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and nestled into the net.
The job seemed half done, but a lot could happen over 90 minutes and from what ensued over the course of the rest of the first half, it was amply clear that one goal would not be enough for the Black and White Brigade.
It took Shillong just a quarter of an hour to get back into the game, a Douglas penalty making it 1-1. It would still be enough for Mohammedan.
However, their back four had their work cut out in the first half when Lajong piled on the pressure on the table toppers. Douglas and Phrangki Buam, a former Mohammedan Sporting player himself, hit the woodwork.
In another blow for Mohammedan Sporting, their goalscorer Gomez hobbled off injured, only to be replaced by Kozlov.
Lajong right back Ronney had the perfect opportunity to put his side in the lead, when Douglas played a ball across the face of the goal, and the former only had to tap it into an empty net. The Mohammedan camp heaved a sigh of relief when he side-footed it inches wide.
Padam Chettri, Mohammedan Sporting’s goalkeeper, who has had a stellar season, pulled off a brilliant save to maintain parity just before the half-time break, as he palmed away a shot by Marcos Silva from point-blank range. Padam knows a thing or two about playing here, being a local boy and having played many a season for Rangdajied United FC. There were a couple of former Lajong players in the visiting side, too, namely Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Zodingliana.
The home side started with the same tempo in the second half, but the table toppers managed the situation well. They stayed back and waited for the opportunity that soon presented itself.
Kozlov, who had come on as a first-half substitute, latched on to a clearance and found himself inside the box with just the keeper to beat, which he subsequently did. Finally, some breathing space for Mohammedan.
Making it a collective effort by the team, the visiting defenders put in an absolute shift in injury time. Joseph Adjei showed some brilliant anticipation to position himself beside Padam as Lajong’s Kynsaibor Lhuid pulled the trigger. Adjei simply booted the effort away, to secure Mohammedan’s 15th win of the season.
Lajong are not ending the season as well as they began it; they have not won any of their last five encounters and have now lost three in a row. Still, they will have a shot to end their comeback campaign well in their final match but it will be a tough one – facing second-placed Sreenidi Deccan away next Saturday. If the Reds can win there and if Delhi lose to Mohammedan, Lajong will take sixth place, which will be no bad end to their season.
