Shillong (IANS) Mohun Bagan went top of the I-League standings Friday as they beat Shillong Lajong FC 4-3 in a goal feast here at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
A brace from Bagan striker Balwant Singh was nullified by Lajong’s Trinidadian marksman Cornell Glen, but then the visitors came back with their Japanese playmaker Katsumi Yusa and Cameroonian striker Pierre Boya to regain the two goal cushion. A late strike from Brazilian striker Uilliams Bomfin pulled one back for the losers.
It was Singh who scored Bagan’s first two minutes into the exchange. A floating ball from the defence found its way to the striker who was left unmarked and he finished past Lajong custodian T.P. Rehenesh with ease.
Thirteen minutes later, the green and maroon brigade clinched their second goal of the game, as a shot from Bagan’s new recruit Haitian Sony Norde was parried in the way of Singh by Rehenesh, and all Singh had to do was put the ball into an unguarded net.
Bagan conceded a shocking goal next Boithang Haokip’s corner was missed by Debjit Majumder in goal and Glen was there to head the ball home.
There were a few other chances which both sides squandered.
Bagan went into halftime 2-1 in the lead.
After the breather it was the home side who turned on the gas, and finally got their reward for perseverance as Bagan defender Pritam Kotal handled the ball in the box to give away a penalty. Glen stepped upto the spot and smashed the ball into the net sending Majumder the wrong way.
Jolted, Bagan found a life support system in the form of Yusa. A Dhanachandra Singh cross was headed home by the Japanese medio, sparking new life within the Bagan ranks.
In the 81st minute, Boya added another as he finished from the spot after the away side was given a penalty as Norde was brought down into the box by Aiborlang Khongjee.
Uilliams pulled one back for Lajong in the 89th minute by a slamming home a ball from Glen but it was too little to late as Bagan held on to seal the win.
Bagan top the table with 14 points from six games, whereas Shillong Lajong is ninth on the ladder with six points from seven games.