Shillong, Aug 14: Shillong Lajong FC secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw against fellow Meghalaya side Langsning FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday.
The result saw Shillong Lajong finish top of Group E with seven points, while Langsning ended their campaign in second place with five points. Despite finishing second in the group, Langsning’s hopes of progressing were ultimately ended as East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC secured the two available quarter-final spots for the best second-placed teams based on goal difference.
Shillong Lajong made a bright start and took control of the game through two goals from Joao Vitor de Paula Morais, popularly known as Jota. The Brazilian opened the scoring in the 26th minute before doubling Lajong’s advantage four minutes later with a fine finish after being released by Everbrighton Sana.
Langsning, however, refused to let the two-goal deficit affect their approach. The side continued to attack and were rewarded early in the second half when Kyrmenskhem Mukhim headed home in the 49th minute to reduce the deficit.
The goal changed the momentum of the match, with Langsning increasingly putting Lajong under pressure. Their persistence paid off again in the 63rd minute when Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem headed home to bring the scores level at 2-2.
Both teams continued to push for a winner in an increasingly open contest. Lajong eventually restored their lead in the 83rd minute when captain Kenstar Kharshong’s cross found Sana at the far post, with the forward heading past Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh to make it 3-2.
Langsning once again showed their fighting spirit and produced another late response. In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Syed Ahmed rose at the back post to head home following a short-corner routine and make it 3-3.
The late equaliser set up a tense finish, but Lajong managed to hold on for the point they needed to finish at the top of Group E and secure their quarter-final berth.
For Langsning, the draw brought an end to an impressive Durand Cup campaign in which they remained competitive against some of the country’s established clubs. Their five points left them second in the group, but they missed out on qualification after East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC emerged as the two best second-placed teams in the group stage.
The Shillong derby also produced an entertaining spectacle for the home crowd, with six goals shared between the two Meghalaya sides in a match that remained competitive until the final whistle.
With Shillong Lajong now through to the knockout stage, the club will turn its attention to the quarter-finals of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
