AGENCIES, SHILLONG: Kingfisher East Bengal ensured that they continue to enjoy the pole position after beating Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 in a well contested Hero I-League match at the JN Stadium in Shillong on Saturday.
The visitors had the match firmly in their control in the first-half only, thanks to a brace by Australian striker Christopher Payne (8, 33), but Lajong were not the ones to give it up without a fight in their backyard and in-form striker Dipanda Dicka (64) put one back for them to bring the JN Stadium back into life.
Earlier, both sides started off rather sluggishly but Kingfisher East Bengal soon gained the upper hand following an 8th-minute goal by Payne. A defensive lapse by the Lajong backline helped the visitors draw first blood. Payne slid in to tap the ball to perfection.
After the half-hour mark, Payne threatened to virtually take the game out of Lajong’s reach when he scored his brace to make it 2-0 for his side.
Crossing over, the hosts made a mess of their last real chance when Rupert Nongrum slammed one over the crossbar after making an excellent run from the centre park.
In another match, Aizawl FC continue their enviable home run as they defeated Khalid Jamil’s former team Mumbai FC 2-0.
Bayi Kamo’s (65, 78) two goals in the second half were enough to clinch the three points for the hosts.
