Super Cup Football: Shillong Lajong registers thrilling win over FC Pune City

Bhubaneswar: I-League team Shillong Lajong FC came from behind to beat FC Pune City of Indian Super League (ISL) by 3-2 goals in a closely-fought pre-quarterfinal battle of Super Cup Football Championship at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

In first 25 minutes, Lajong was trailing by 2 goals. But after goals from Abdoulaye Koffi and Rakesh Pradhan, when the scoreline was 2-2, skipper Samuel Lalmuanpuia converted a penalty in the injury time to ensure a quarterfinal berth for the boys from North Eastern state of Meghalaya.

Heavy rain lashed Bhubaneswar but the game started in time. FC Pune City dominated from the very beginning of the match. Jonathan Lucca got a low cross at the edge of the box in the eighth minute but his kick was saved by the Shillong goalkeeper.

In the 17th minute, Lucca got another chance in the form of a free-kick which he converted with ease by kicking the ball to the top left corner of the post. The ISL side from Pune got a 1-0 lead early in the game.

FC Pune City doubled the lead five minutes later when skipper Marcelo Pereira scored the second goal. Marcelo received the ball from Diego Carlos and curled the ball into the post brilliantly.

Shillong Lajong came back to the game to reduce the margin in the 29th minute. Abdoulaye Koffi beat Pune goalie Vishal Kaith by slotting the ball nicely in his first touch after going past the defenders.

After constant attacking football by both the teams amid puddles of water on the pitch, the first half ended with a scoreline of 2-1 in favour of FC Pune City.

Shillong Lajong came out with a positive intent in the second half. Rakesh Pradhan scored the equaliser for the team in the 61st minute. Rakesh overlapped the Pune defenders and nailed the ball into the post quite perfectly.

When the game was heading towards extra-time, Lajong striker Abdoulaye Koffi was brought down by Pune goalie Vishal Kaith and hence Shillong Lajong was awarded a penalty. Skipper Samuel Lalmuanpuia made no mistakes to convert it into a goal in the injury time and Shillong Lajong won the cliffhanger by 3-2 goals.

Shillong Lajong will now meet Mohun Bagan in an all I-League team quarter final in the next round of Super Cup.

In the seventh pre-quarterfinal game tomorrow, East Bengal from Kolkata will face ISL team Mumbai City FC.