Shillong Lajong FC wasted what should have been a special 4-2 victory at home in I-League 2023-24 to draw 4-4 with Rajasthan FC as two goals were scored by the visitors in second half stoppage time at First Ground, Polo, here tonight.
In the first leg, on December 3, the two clubs also played out a draw, but that was a more mundane 1-1.
The home side just switched off as Richardson Kwaku Denzell (90’+3) was allowed to saunter up the pitch alone, get past three defenders and fire a ball in low past Lajong goalkeeper Bishal Lama. Then a minute or so later, Lalchungnunga (90’+5) took a left-footer from the flank that burst through Bishal’s gloves to level the scores and floor the crowd.
Bishal was the unfortunate villain of the match for the hosts and was inconsolable afterwards despite his team mates and even the opposition giving him a hug.
The goalie slipped on the surface outside the box to gift Rajasthan the lead in the 12th minute, with Pangambam Naoba Meitei taking advantage and scoring in an empty net.
Kynsaibor Lhuid equalised in the 24th minute after he got on to the end of a cross to bump the ball into the back of the net and, on the stroke of half time, Douglas Tardin (45’+3) converted a penalty after he was brought down in the box to put SLFC in front. The inclusion of Douglas in the starting line-up (in place of Arik Bista) was the only change made by coach Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet after the win against TRAU FC three days ago.
Lajong were right on the back foot early in the second half, though, as Allen Lyngdoh Nongbri was shown a direct red card after fouling a Rajasthan player from behind in what looked like a harsh decision.
The resulting free-kick was blazed in by Ragav Gupta (51′) with pinpoint accuracy.
That made it 2-2 but Lajong continued to try and reclaim the lead. Their efforts paid off only half an hour later when a Hardy Cliff Nongbri free-kick was headed in by Daniel Goncalves (80′).
Five minutes later, Phrangki Buam (85′) looked to be putting a ball into the box but it beat everyone on the bounce and went into the net.
The roars of the crowd could be heard quite some distance from the stadium after that one and Lajong should’ve been coasting to the final whistle. Perhaps they took too much of their foot off the pedal and that opened up a way for a sensational Rajasthan fight back.
SLFC will be kicking themselves for the ending but have to pick themselves up quickly as they next travel to Goa to face Churchill Brothers on March 4 at 7pm.
