Indian Football wrap, Jan. 30: India ends U-20 Challenge Series with loss; Shillong Lajong, Churchill Brothers win in I-League
Indian Football wrap, Jan. 30: India ends U-20 Challenge Series with loss; Shillong Lajong, Churchill Brothers win in I-League
The India U20 men’s team lost 0-4 to Indonesia in the last match of the Mandiri U20 Challenge Series at the Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The Blue Colts, touring with a much younger squad of 17 and 18-year-olds, ended the four-nation friendly tournament with three defeats. Earlier in the day, Syria beat Jordan 2-1 to win the tournament. All three opponents participated with their 2005-born players in preparation for next month’s AFC U20 Asian Cup.
From Thursday’s match, nine Indian players were part of the U17 squad that beat Indonesia U17 in Bali last August. However, up against a group of players two years senior to them, it was a totally different scenario this time around.
The hosts got an early breakthrough in the fourth minute from a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Toni Firmansyah was able to squeeze a powerful shot under the wall and beyond a diving Karan Makkar.
Makkar wouldn’t be beaten for the rest of the first half as he pulled off some marvellous saves. The most impressive ones were to deny Muhammad Ragil and Jens Raven in one-on-one situations inside the six-yard box. The Indian custodian was also alert to dangers from outside the penalty area, tipping out fierce grounded strikes from Gala Pagamo, Dony Tri Pamungkas and Jehan Pahlevi. Aerially, Makkar did well to tip over a Pahlevi volley that was looping into the top corner.
His counterpart and Indonesia goalkeeper Arta Wiguna had to make a solitary save in the first half. In the 17th minute, Laishram Danny Meitei spotted Wiguna way off his line and went for a 45-yard attempt on goal. However, the home goalkeeper backtracked and somehow managed to hold on to the ball.
The half-time break worked well for the hosts as they got another goal within seconds of the restart. Ironically, it came off an error from Makkar – his intended pass for Sumit Sharma was loose, allowing Ragil to intercept and score.
Ragil got his second and Indonesia’s third at the hour mark when he slammed in the rebound after Makkar had saved Firmansyah’s initial shot. Muhammad Iqbal Gwijangge scored the fourth and final goal for the hosts in the 76th minute, sweeping in from close range after a rather weak shot from Evandra Florasta fell onto his path.
India did have its fair share of chances to get on the scoresheet, with head coach Biby Thomas making a string of attacking changes to try and salvage something from the game.
The best opportunity fell for substitute Ngamgouhou Mate as he robbed the ball off last man Kadek Arel but goalkeeper Wiguna did well to close down the Indian midfielder and thwart the danger.
Wiguna made more saves to deservedly keep his clean sheet, keeping out Danny’s swerving effort and Mate’s 30-yard free-kick that was curling towards the top corner.
Shillong Lajong deepened Aizawl FC’s woes on Thursday, January 30, 2025, when it defeated it 3-1 in their I-League 2024-25 encounter.
With the result, Lajong’s 16 points took it to fifth on the table while Aizawl remained rooted to the bottom three. The winner led 1-0 at half-time.
While Douglas Tardin, (penalty), Hardy Cliff Nongbri and Phrangki Buam scored for Shillong Lajong, the home side’s lone goal came through Lalbiakdika during the add-on time of the second half.
The visitors struck the first blow in the ninth minute when Phrangki Buam was brought down inside the box by goalkeeper John Lalruatfela. I-League’s leading scorer Douglas Tardin made no mistake from the spot, side-footing his shot into the bottom right corner after Lalruatfela had dived the other way.
Within minutes of the restart, Lajong doubled its lead. Tardin displayed exactly why he isn’t just the league’s top goalscorer but also its top goal initiator, with another contribution in the second.
His gentle layoff inside the box was handily slammed in first-time with the outside of the boot, by Hardy Cliff Nongbri. Lajong’s captain wheeled off in celebration even as Aizawl’s shoulders slumped.
Lajong added a third through Buam after the forward was brilliantly set up by Nongbri along the right side of the box. He took a brilliant first touch before firing a rising shot that went through Lalruatfela and into the roof of the net.
Aizawl got a consolation goal in the first minute of injury time, mere moments after being reduced to 10 players due to Lalthankhuma’s second yellow card.
From a free kick just outside the box, Lalbiakdika curled a perfect attempt into the far side bottom corner, taking away the visitors’ clean sheet if not their three points.
Churchill Brothers returned to winning ways as it thrashed Real Kashmir FC 3-1 in an I-League 2024-25 match to regain the top position in the standings at the Raia Ground, in Goa, on Thursday, January 30.
The hosts delivered an assertive performance to move past Namdhari FC, with goals from Nischal Chandan, Anil Rama Gaonkar, and Trijoy Savio Dias, while Paulo Cezar scored for the visiting Snow Leopards.
The action started quickly with Churchill Brothers opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Chandan connected with a precisely delivered corner to head the ball past the Real Kashmir goalkeeper Mohammad Arbaz.
The first goal helped instill early momentum for the home side. And with wind in its sails, Churchill Brothers soon doubled its advantage in the 21st minute. Dias, after a swift move down the left flank, cut back for Gaonkar, who made no mistake in finding the net despite Real Kashmir’s desperate defensive efforts.
The visitors managed a brief comeback when they were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after Chandan fouled Abdou Karim Samb in the area. Cezar took the responsibility and successfully converted the penalty, igniting hopes of a turnaround for Real Kashmir.
However, Churchill Brothers maintained its offensive pressure. It continually tested Arbaz under the bar, who was instrumental in keeping the scoreline the same. The goalkeeper was also aided by the crossbar which denied Wayde Lekay twice in the second half.
Churchill Brothers finally killed off the game in the 79th minute from another set-piece. Lalremruata’s corner found Dias, who rose highest in the crowded penalty area to head the ball into the net and ensure a critical victory.
Churchill Brothers now has 22 points in its kitty from 11 matches with seven wins, one draw and three defeats. Real Kashmir remained in the fifth spot with 16 points from 11 matches.
