Shillong: Dudu Omagbemi continued his scoring streak but East Bengal spilled their chance of keeping things in control, letting themselves be held to 2-2 draw against Shillong Lajong at the JLN Stadium here on Monday.
Omagbemi scored twice in the match but Samuel Lalmuanpuia’s brilliance — he assisted one and scored the other — overshadowed the 32 year-old, giving spirited a Lajong the prize of finishing their season with a vital contribution in deciding the league.
The draw meant the Red and Golds remain fourth on 30 points after 17 games the same as Mohun Bagan, who are third in the table.
But coming into the game sitting on the driver’s seat and favourites to win the I-League title this year, East Bengal had a simple equation — win both the remaining two games —- and Dudu ensured they continued to do so scoring in the 20th minute.
That Lajong started the match with a 5-3-2 formation meant it was clear they will play on the counter and East Bengal were left to try the long ball behind the congested defence to catch the hosts off-balance.
After repetitive failures, Lalramchullova’s long ball managed to sneak in and Dudu ensured they scored from that. It was the Nigerian’s seventh this season from the same number of games and in the second consecutive match.
That goal seemed to have taken the gas out of Lajong and they went into the break trailing by a goal but bounced back as soon as play resumed. It was in the 49th minute and after Lalmuanpuia himself had earned a foul.
His free-kick was as accurate as ever and found Aibhanbha Dohling’s header who made no mistake in levelling terms for ‘The Reds’.
But more than a goal it was like a bullet pierced through the Red and Golds’s heart. Their positioning and marking suddenly looked disappeared as emotions broiled over. That fans shed tears seeing their dreams shattered into pieces stood a testimony about what the title meant to them.
Lajong struck again and Lalmuanpuia was again at the centre of things. Evading all defenders Koffi Mechac found Lalumpuia free inside the box and Mehtab — who was marking the winger — couldn’t help but tackle him more out of desperation than of necessity.
Lalumpuia stood up and scored with power and precision in the 68th minute after Mehtab was substituted for Brandon Fernandes.
The goal seemed enough for a major shocker as Lajong steered home 2-1 on the scoreline. But two minutes from the final whistle Dudu scored again from another cross. Fernandes put in a cross that was brought low by Jobby Justin for Ansumana Kromah, whose shot was slotted home by the Dudu.
It helped East Bengal come home for the final match undefeated but snatched the league baton away from the their hands. Meaning even a victory against Neroca in their final match may not be enough for them to lift the title — one that has eluded them for the last 16 years.