Indian football wrap, March 3: Shillong Lajong beats Gokulam Kerala in a thriller, SC Bengaluru loses to Aizawl
Indian football wrap, March 3: Shillong Lajong beats Gokulam Kerala in a thriller, SC Bengaluru loses to Aizawl
In one of the most dramatic encounters of the I-League this season, Shillong Lajong had the last laugh against Gokulam Kerala. Lajong won 4-3, with the winner coming in the injury time, at the Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode on Monday.
It was a defeat the Gokulam men could have hardly afforded in what is the business end of the league. They have been pushed to sixth place and remain on 25 points. Lajong has climbed three slots with 26 points and is placed fourth, five behind joint leaders Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi.
Just when it seemed Lajong may have to settle for one point, Renan Paulino struck with a free-kick from just outside the D. That was after Mashoor Shereef made it 3-3 for Gokulam with a header.
The match indeed produced a lot of end-to-end football. It was the host that drew first blood, with Thabiso Brown scoring in the ninth minute. But just five minutes later, Phrangki Buam equalised for Lajong.
Both Brown and Buam would score again, both in the second half.
– P. K. Ajith Kumar
Aizawl FC rallied to beat Sporting Club Bengaluru 2-1 at the Bangalore Football Stadium. The victory also ended SC Bengaluru’s five-match unbeaten run in the league.
Lalawmpuia Sailo and Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia were the scorers in what was a hard-fought win for the visitor. Henry Kisseka had given Bengaluru the lead in the first half from the penalty spot.
The win would boost Aizawl’s confidence even though it did little to improve its position in the league standings. In a stop-start season, Aizawl remains a rung above the bottom–placed Delhi FC at 11th spot with 16 points from 17 games. It has four wins, four draws and suffered nine losses. It would want to build on this win if it harbours hopes of beating the drop.
For Bengaluru, it was a missed opportunity. It led the game till the 70th minute before a five-minute spell from Aizawl completely undid its good work. It now remains a position above Aizawl in the ninth spot with 17 points from 17 games.
Bengaluru took control of the proceedings from the outset. Its dominance translated into a goal when Kisseka was brought down in the penalty box. The Uganda forward stepped up to send Mohammed Rafique Ali Sardar the other way as he converted from the spot to give the host the lead in the 28th minute.
Bengaluru, which didn’t concede a goal in the last two matches, focused on defending the slender lead. But the match changed dramatically after Aizawl brought on a few substitutes.
Aizawl equalised in the 70th minute when substitute Lalawmpuia Sailo took control of a loose ball at the edge of the box and slammed a left-footer to score. Five minutes later, another substitute Lalchhanhima Sailo floated in a cross from the left and Lalrinzuala ran behind the defence to head home the winner.
– Team Sportstar
Published on Mar 03, 2025
