Shillong Lajong FC jumped a place to the fifth spot after beating Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0 in an I-League fixture here, at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, on Sunday.
Brazilian striker Uilliams Bomfim scored the game-clinching goal in the 59th minute to give the home side its first ever victory against the Goan side. He was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Lajong now has seven points from four matches leapfrogging Sporting, which has four points from as many games.
Sporting pushed their hosts on the backfoot in the opening exchanges, winning several corners. Lajong’s Nigerian Penn Orji was the only visible threat to Sporting.
Missed chance
Sporting got the first chance in the 23rd minute. But Rowlin Borges’ header from close range rebounded off the frame of the goal. It was a golden opportunity for Sporting and it was unable to create another meaningful opportunity in the first half, which ended 0-0.
Sporting was again on the charge after the break, creating a couple of genuine opportunities in the space of three minutes.
Nigerian Odafa Okolie made a menacing run forward in the 52nd minute and got a clear sight at goal but blasted over.
Three minutes later, he tried to make amends by issuing a dangerous cross in the box but an acrobatic stop from goalkeeper Vishal Kaith bailed the host out.
Lajong made Sporting pay dearly for its profligacy and went ahead just at the stroke of the hour mark. Uilliams scored after co-ordinating beautifully with Faio Pena upfront.
Fox in the box
Fabio’s shot from a chipped forward ball was partially saved by Sporting custodian Arindam Bhattacharya. Uilliams, however, pounced on the rebound to score.
Meanwhile, in the other fixture, Aizawl FC stole two points away from Salgaocar after R. Malsawmtluanga equalised in injury time to deny the Goan side all three points as the match ended 1-1, at Tilak Maidan, at Vasco on Sunday. D. Duffy opened the scoring for the host in the 42nd minute.
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