Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
A game that swayed between the two outfits until the final whistle, finally went to the hosts’ way handing the only Keralite side of I-League 2017-18 their maiden win at home, thanks to the 90th-minute winner from Arjun Jayaraj earlier today.
Koffi took only 25 minutes to put Lajong FC in the driver’s seat and the visitors went into the changing room with the slender lead. More thrilling actions unfolded in the second half as not less than four goals were scored in the next 45 minutes.
Bahrainian Midfielder Alajmi restored parity for the hosts in the 52nd minute before conceding another within 60 seconds as Lajong FC’s Korean Defender Zuho Oh headed Samuel’s freekick home. Gokulam made the most of Lajong FC’s defensive lapse as Kivi Zhimoni put the hosts back into the fight once again in the 74th minute.
Finally, Arjun Jayaraj took on his own to whiz past the Lajong FC defenders and blasted the back of the net to swing the match into their way.
The visitors started on a high pitch in their quest to another three points on the road and the Highlanders were heavily banking on the lanky striker Koffi who delivered rightly in the 25th minute, having tapped in Samuel’s superb cross from the wing.
Bino George’s boys were pushing hard but the equaliser was eluding the Yellow outfit till the seventh minute of the second half when Alajmi’s curling free-kick banged the target to send the Gokulam Kerala FC dugout in a delirium.
Their joy was cut short as Zuho Oh headed Lajong FC’s second goal within 60 seconds of conceding the first goal of the match.
Lajong FC assistant coach Alison mentioned that his squad is a young one and they need more experience in the higher stage, their inexperience cost huge as Kivi Zhimoni caught their defence napping and cancelled the visitors’ lead once again.
Alison made some crucial changes in the dying minutes of the match but the fresh pair of legs couldn’t serve the purpose well.
Finally, Arjun Jayaraj’s stupendous effort put the hosts in the lead for the first time and they could maintain the lead to the final whistle to walk away with their first three-pointer at home.
Shillong Lajong FC will now host Mohun Bagan on February 3 and Gokulam Kerala FC will travel to the state of Manipur to face NEROCA FC in Imphal the next day.
