AGENCIES, SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong breezed past Aizawl FC 3-1, thanks to a Fabio Pena double (17′, 18′) and a Samuel Lalnunpuia pile-driver (37′), to register their first ever win the I-League’s North East derby, here, on Friday.
Aizawl were gifted the opener in the third minute when Lajong custodian Kaith failed to collect a corner efficiently. The rebound fell kindly for Ayeni, who tapped into an empty net.
It was Pena who headed Lajong on level terms in the 17th minute to alleviate the keeper. Celebrations would double just 30 seconds later for Thangboi Singto’s men. Aizawl fell asleep after they restarted the match and a long ball to Pena found him in acres of space behind the Aizawl defense. The Spaniard took one touch, raced into the box and pummeled a low drive from the past a diving Aizawl number 22 and into the lower right corner of the oppositions net.
The crowd went berserk as the home side took proceedings by the scruff of the neck, after being timidly second best in the opening quarter of an hour. Bad news however greeted the Reds, who had Pena forced off with injury. His replacement was the equally guile Uilliams.
Lalmanpuia found himself finally on the score sheet in the 37th minute, when Orji’s rampaging run saw him shunt the ball to Uilliams. The Brazilian then looped for the Lajong number nine and curled into the top corner.
