Shillong Lajong FC registered their first victory of the I-League 2023-24 in a controversial match against Gokulam Kerala FC at First Ground, Polo, here today.
Lajong won the game 3-1 with Daniel Goncalves (29′), Renan Paulino de Souza (75’P) and Hardy Cliff Nongbri (90’+8) scoring for the hosts and Nili Perdomo (43′) for the visitors.
There were two huge moments of controversy, both in the second half after Lajong took a 2-1 lead – the first when the Kerala club apparently wanted to make a double substitution. The fourth official had only completed the process for one when the referee allowed play to resume.
This was a blow to Gokulam as, although teams can make five substitutions, there can only be three moments in the game (not including half time) when players can be brought on. This double substitution was meant to be the third and final occasion and so Gokulam were not able to bring on that intended other player.
The visiting side were left further infuriated by the third goal. A long ball saw Nongbri and Abdou Karim Samb take off into the Gokulam half of the pitch. The assistant referee apparently raised his flag for offside for a moment before bringing it back down but that half a second was enough for Gokulam to give up the chase.
Although the referee never blew the whistle for offside, the Gokulam players gave up chasing the ball after the assistant briefly raised his flag. That the goal stood incensed the Gokulam players and staff, with even the security guards getting caught up in the commotion.
Eight yellow cards were shown to players during the match (two for the hosts, six for the visitors) plus at least one for the Gokulam bench but, incredibly, there were no send-offs.
All this brouhaha did take away from the earlier action, which saw Lajong once again get their noses in front after a beautiful header by Goncalves into the goal off Nongbri’s corner kick.
However, for the third time in three home matches, Lajong gave up a lead as Perdomo equalised after some fast play up the right flank by Gokulam that SLFC had no way of reacting to.
Early on in the second half, Phrangki Buam did a huge amount of hard work to muscle his way into the opposition box and delivered a good cross only to see Karim blast it over the crossbar.
It was he, too, who earned the penalty, cleverly drawing the foul after getting into the penalty zone and de Souza converted by putting it low out of the reach of the goalkeeper, Avilash Paul, who had dived the right way.
Gokulam have now tasted defeat after three wins and a draw and they drop to third in the standings with 10 points, behind Mohammedan Sporting on 13 and Sreenidi Deccan on 10 (the latter have a better goal difference +11 to +8).
Lajong, now one of only two clubs still unbeaten (the other being Mohammedan), have jumped up to sixth place with 6 points.
Coach Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet will breathe a sigh of relief that the run of draws has ended but there is precious little rest for his boys as they will host Delhi FC on November 22 at 2:30pm.
