I-League 2023-24: Shillong Lajong FC secures second win, defeats Delhi FC 2-1.
3 min readI-League 2023-24 : Shillong Lajong FC vs Delhi FC HIGHLIGHTS
I-League 2023-24 : Churchill Brothers Goa got back on track with a good performance at home against TRAU FC on Wednesday. TRAU’s fifth defeat of the season has dropped them to the bottom of the standings and puts them in risk of relegation.
TRAU’s Missed Opportunity
TRAU had an opportunity in the opening minute, with Abraham Okyere going one-on-one with Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, but the goalkeeper made a superb save. The tide turned almost immediately, as Churchill took control of the game, their penetrating rushes on the right side causing havoc for the TRAU backline. TRAU’s defense failed to deal with Lamgoulen Semkholun’s talent and pace on the ball, and were forced to rely on clearing crosses inside the box instead.
As a result, it came as a surprise that the breakthrough occurred from the opposite flank. TRAU cleared a left-wing cross, and the ball landed perfectly into the path of the charging Richard Costa at the top of the box. Costa deserves respect for being cool in a situation where others could have decided to fire, placing the ball precisely into the path of Ricardo Dichiara inside the box. The Argentine pivoted neatly, swiveled, and curled the ball into the net with his left. TRAU has conceded another goal in the first quarter of the game.
Martin Chaves’ ingenuity in midfield ensured that Churchill kept the ball moving fluidly even throughout transitions. They were rewarded in the 33rd minute, when Costa headed in Anil Rama Gaonkar’s wonderful cross to the far post into the net, increasing their advantage.
TRAU’s second-half performance
TRAU’s second-half performance was considerably improved, as they worked hard to score and force a close contest. Despite frequent assaults and a better percentage of possession, their final-third performance failed them down. Louis Ogana’s penalty in the 69th minute put an end to the Manipur-based club’s hopes, and Emiliano Torre’s volley from a beautiful Lalremruata ball in the 83rd minute rounded out a well-deserved win.
Shillong FC defeated Delhi FC
Shillong Lajong FC defeated Delhi FC 2-1 at the SSA Stadium for their second consecutive I-League victory.
Senegalese striker Karim Samb opened the score for Shillong Lajong in the 24th minute in a match between two promoted sides. Gaurav Rawat, who scored twice in his team’s 5-1 win against Aizawl last week, put Delhi FC back on equal terms in the 60th minute. However, Phrangki Buam’s 82nd-minute strike secured a victory for the hosts.
Lajong moved into fourth position in the table with nine points from two victories and three draws after upsetting two-time winners Gokulam Kerala FC last time out. Meanwhile, Delhi FC is sixth in the rankings, with seven points from five games.
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