Kalyani, Nov 1: Shillong Lajong FC began their Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mohammedan SC at the Kalyani Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of a dramatic 90th-minute winner from substitute Nelson Rymbai.
After a largely dominant performance in which they created several scoring opportunities but struggled to find the finishing touch, Lajong finally broke the deadlock in the closing moments. Substitute Abelson Jachi won possession near the Mohammedan penalty area and drove forward before cutting the ball back for Rymbai, who calmly guided his right-footed effort into the net to secure all three points for the visitors.
Lajong dictated much of the tempo from the opening exchanges, moving the ball confidently and using the flanks to stretch the Mohammedan defence. Damaitphang Lyngdoh and winger João Vitor de Paula Morais (Jota) were particularly influential in the attacking third, while captain Kenstar Kharshong and Overkindness L Mawnai helped drive the team’s forward movement.
Mohammedan, meanwhile, adopted a more cautious approach, sitting deeper and looking to exploit opportunities on the counter-attack.
Lajong registered their first notable attempt in the 20th minute when defender Joedson dos Santos unleashed a powerful effort that goalkeeper Nikhil Deka initially struggled to hold. The Mohammedan custodian, however, recovered quickly to gather the ball. At the other end, Joedson tracked back swiftly to intercept a counter-attacking move and prevent the hosts from developing a threat.
Two minutes later, Jota combined well with Lyngdoh and Everbrightson Sana in the attacking third. Sana appeared poised to shoot, but Mohammedan defender Juwel Ahmed Mazumder produced an excellent tackle to clear the danger.
The hosts gradually found some rhythm in midfield, with F. Lalremsanga attempting to create openings, but Lajong continued to enjoy greater possession. Mohammedan’s attacking threat largely came through quick transitions, with Thokchom Adison Singh making promising runs down the right.
Mohammedan head coach Sudhir Mishra was forced into an early substitution after Lalremsanga picked up an injury, with Lalthankima coming on in his place.
Lajong came closest to scoring in the 41st minute when Jota won possession near the halfway line and sent a forward pass into the path of Sana. The forward raced towards goal and found himself one-on-one with Deka, but the goalkeeper produced an excellent reaction save with his foot to deny him at the near post and turn the ball behind for a corner.
The visitors continued to threaten from set-pieces, with captain Kenstar directing a header towards goal in the 43rd minute, which Deka collected comfortably.
Mohammedan responded almost immediately. Captain Mahitosh Roy unleashed a left-footed effort towards the far post in the 44th minute, forcing Lajong goalkeeper Ranit Sarkar into an excellent diving save. Sarkar got his fingertips to the ball to divert it behind for a corner.
Despite registering 10 shots in the first half, Lajong were unable to find the breakthrough. Mohammedan, meanwhile, remained dangerous on the counter, with both their attempts on target. The teams went into the half-time break with the score still goalless.
The second half began at a lively pace, with both sides looking to increase their attacking intensity. Mohammedan defender Hira Mondal produced an important interception in the 48th minute to prevent Jota from getting a shot away, before the exchanges became increasingly open.
Mahitosh came close to giving the hosts the lead in the 52nd minute with a long-range effort that narrowly curled away from the far post. At the other end, Kenstar attempted to create an opportunity with a cross from the left, but Juwel Ahmed was alert to intercept.
Mohammedan began finding more opportunities through their attacking combinations. In the 58th minute, Tangva Ragui linked up with Lalthankima, who played the ball into Adison’s path. The forward found himself in a promising position but sent his effort into the side netting.
Lajong responded through Jota a minute later, but his attempt lacked power and was comfortably collected by Deka.
The hosts threatened again in the 68th minute following an excellent attacking move down the left. Adison produced a strong run before threading a through ball into the path of substitute Maharabam Maxion. However, Overkindness timed his challenge perfectly to prevent Maxion from getting his shot away.
Lajong immediately launched an attack at the other end. Lamlallian unleashed a long-range effort that forced Deka into a diving save for a corner. The resulting set-piece almost produced the opening goal, as Joedson rose to meet the delivery with a powerful header. Deka, however, produced another outstanding save, diving to his left and getting a hand to the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
The Mohammedan goalkeeper continued to frustrate the visitors, producing another important save in the 74th minute to deny substitute Tremiki Lamurong, whose powerful effort from inside the penalty area looked destined for the back of the net.
Mohammedan then missed a golden opportunity to take the lead two minutes later. Lalthankima made a promising run through the Lajong defence and found space inside the box but delayed his shot. With Ranit advancing, he cut the ball to his right and squared it towards Adison, whose subsequent effort was saved by the Lajong goalkeeper.
The contest continued to swing from end to end, with both teams searching for the decisive goal. Mohammedan defender Dinesh Meitei made an important intervention in the 79th minute to stop another Lajong attack, while the visitors continued to build patiently around the opposition penalty area.
Lajong captain Kenstar came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 85th minute when he met a cross with a powerful header, only to see the ball crash against the woodwork.
Mohammedan nearly responded with a goal of their own in the 89th minute. Mahitosh stepped up to take a free-kick and produced an excellent effort that sailed inches over the crossbar.
Just when the match appeared destined for a draw, Lajong found their breakthrough in the 90th minute. Abelson Jachi won possession near the Mohammedan penalty area, drove forward and cut the ball back into the path of Rymbai. The substitute made no mistake, calmly guiding his right-footed finish into the net to give the visitors a crucial late lead.
Mohammedan attempted to respond in the closing moments, while Rymbai almost added a second in the 90+4th minute. His powerful effort, however, was punched away by Deka, who had kept the hosts in the contest with a series of impressive saves.
The final whistle confirmed a 1-0 victory for Shillong Lajong, giving them a winning start to their IFL 2026-27 campaign.
