Shillong Lajong FC registered a 3-0 win over Tata Football Academy, in a pre-season friendly, which was played at the JN Stadium Shillong on Friday.
The match started on a bright note with both teams having a good possession of the ball and moving it around the park. The Reds looked the more dangerous going forward, however, with new international recruit Cornell Glen in particular troubling the TFA backline with his movement and darting runs.
It was in the wake of one such move by the Trinidad and Tobago striker, that the Reds finally found themselves ahead. Glen who dribbled past two TFA defenders, and found left back Jibon Singh, who wasted no opportunity to put the ball at the back of the net in the 32nd minute.
TFA then tried to find a way back into the match, but found it tough to break the firm Lajong backline, as the hosts dominated the first half with ease. Boithang Haokip then doubled his team’s lead when he curled one past the TFA custodian from a free kick in the 38th minute, even as the game went into the break,with Lajong leading by a brace.
The second half play was quite toned down, as the morning heat started taking a toll on the players.
In the 82nd minute of the game, Manipuri sensation Milan Singh put the game to bed ,with a beautifully curled free kick , even as Shillong Lajong FC Coach Thangboi Singto handed match time to youngsters Redeem Tlang, Bipin Singh, Rakesh Pradhan, Lalrammuana and Seikhohao Tuboi.
After that, it was just a matter of completing formalities and the game ended 3-0 in favour of Shillong Lajong, who will consider the result a good start to their run up to the 2013-14 I-league campaign.
