Shillong Defeat Chennai 2-0 For Third Successive Home Win

Shillong Lajong made it three successive home wins on Tuesday, with a 2-0 victory over Chennai City in a sixth round Hero I-League match, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

Newcomers Chennai came into the game on the back of their first victory over Shillong’s north east rival Aizawl FC.

Having previously won against Minerva Punjab and Mumbai FC at home, Shillong coach Thangboi Singto kept to the same line-up and used the same players on the bench.

The home team started the game on a dominant note. Once again it was Aser Pierrick Dipanda, who brimming with confidence, gave his side an early breakthrough, scoring the first half of a brace in the 20th minute, after Isaac sent the ball into the Chennai box, which Dipanda headed home. It was Isaac and the Cameroonian that hooked up in their previous match to score the opening goal.

The pair combined again in the 64th minute after Isaac sent in a free kick from the halfway line, which Chennai failed to clear. Dipanda took advantage of the confusion and slotted the ball home from close range, to give him his fifth goal from three home matches.

Just 4 minutes later it looked like the 30 year-old would score a hat-trick however, his touch from Isaac’s delivery from the corner wasn’t strong enough to get the better of Abhra Mondal in the Chennai goal

Thangboi’s team consisted of eight U22’s in the starting eleven which speaks volumes about the youth developement of the coach and his team. After the match he told reporters:

“Credit to all the young U22 boys but that said, there’s a lot of room for improvement because we’re not there yet. Definitely not because against stronger teams we need to play much better than the way we’ve played so far.”