Shillong Lajong defeated Kerala Blasters 2-0 to lift its maiden AIFF U-18 Youth League title at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday.
A third minute own goal by Lins P. Poulose and Kynsailang Khongsit's second-half stoppage time strike proved to be enough for Lajong to clinch the U-18 Youth League title in its own backyard.
With the win, Bobby Nongbert's Lajong ended the campaign with a 100 per cent record.
Lajong, which enjoyed a good support in the stands, took an early lead following a school-boyish error from the Blasters defender Lins Poulose who put the ball into his own net while trying to clear Samuel Lyngdoh Kynshi's free-kick.
The Junior Reds then took control of the match. The home side probably should have scored a couple more goals before the break, but its finishing let it down.
The Blasters defence continued to commit defensive mistakes and they were almost punished just past the half-hour mark by Parvaj Bhuiya, who pounced on to Phrangki Buam's back pass before placing his effort wide of the target.
Blasters which looked lacklustre for much of the opening half, tightened up defensively after the restart and started to see more of the ball. Abdullah KS was able to force Lajong custodian Neithovilie Chalieu into a great save with a long-range shot in the 53rd minute.
Kerala pushed hard for an equaliser in the later stage of the game but it really wasn't its day, none more so than when Adarsh AS hit the post in the final quarter of the game with Chalieu well-beaten.
While it pressed high up looking for the parity, Lajong managed to double its lead in stoppage time through Khongsit, who placed himself perfectly for a shot in the box and scored a wonderful goal to put the result beyond doubt.
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