Kolkata: Shillong Lajong registered their second consecutive win in the 2017-18 Hero I-League with a 2-0 victory over Churchill Brothers at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Saturday. Playing their second match at home the ‘Reds’ maintained their winning start as two goals from Redeem Tlang (28′) and Samuel J Lyngdoh Kynshi (72′) across both the halves sealed a rather comfortable win.
The victory also helped Lajong leapfrog Minerva Punjab to the top of the table, having bagged all six points available from the two matches so far.
Both the sides were on the attack right form the start, keeping less of the ball but it was the home team who finished better with a goal in the 28th minute as Tlang scored, sending the home fans into a frenzy. The Meghalaya club has never been short of supporters and many flocked in to see their heroes party with the Churchill defence.
The goal calmed things down for the home side, but Churchill kept up it’s attacking spree without any fruitful result. Daniel Odafin of Lajong and Karthik Govindswamy of the away side received a yellow card each as the first-half drew to an end.
The break seemed to have installed a new lease of energy as Churchil attacked with more intensity, but the home team happily defended. A comeback however looked bleak after Kynshi came off the bench to score a second goal in the 72nd minute.
Churchill though relentlessly fought but failed to find an equaliser as Lajong steamed home, with another three points in their kitty.
Shillong Lajong next face Kolkata giants East Bengal away for home on December 9, while Churchill will compete against another city giants Mohun Bagan, in Kolkata on the following day.