Shillong Lajong FC climbed to the top of the Indian Football League table after defeating Sreenidi Deccan FC 2-1 on Friday. According to ThePrint, the result gives the home side seven points from three matches, while Sreenidi Deccan remains fourth with four points. The match featured strong midfield control by Shillong and a decisive late strike from a substitute.
The home team controlled possession early on, with midfielders Lamlallian Valphei, Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli, Damaitphang Lyngdoh, and Abelson Jachi executing crisp passing sequences. The first major chance arrived in the tenth minute when Everbrightson Sana fired a powerful shot from outside the box. Sreenidi Deccan goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh made an excellent fingertip save to deny the effort. At the opposite end, Adriano Castanheira created opportunities for Jerry Mawihmingthanga and David Castaneda, but Shillong goalkeeper Ranit Sarkar and the goalpost prevented a visitor’s goal before halftime.
Shillong Lajong broke the deadlock in the fifty-first minute through Joedson dos Santos. ThePrint reported that dos Santos timed his run perfectly to meet a delivery from Ephraim Lalremtluanga, guiding the ball past Kamaljit Singh to open the scoring. "Joedson dos Santos was named as the Player of the Match," ThePrint noted, highlighting his impact on the decisive goal. The home side maintained pressure, keeping the Sreenidi Deccan defense under constant strain.
Sreenidi Deccan responded after the sixty-fifth minute when manager Antonio Rueda introduced three substitutes: Brandon Vanlalremdika, K Abhijith, and Nicolas Morinigo. The changes yielded results five minutes later when right-back Jagdeep Singh delivered a looping cross. Substitute Morinigo outmuscled his marker to head home an equalizer. ThePrint observed that "It was the visitors’ best chance of the first half" was now realized in the second period, though the goal proved fleeting.
Sreenidi Deccan nearly took the lead in the seventy-ninth minute when an error by Shillong goalkeeper Siwel Rymbai allowed Adriano Castanheira a clear opportunity, but the midfielder shot over the bar. The miss proved costly. In the eighty-fourth minute, substitute Tremiki Lamurong curled a left-footed effort from the right edge of the box to restore Shillong’s lead. ThePrint confirmed that this late strike secured the three points for the home side, who will now lead the table until further matches are played.