Laldanmawia nets hat-trick as East Bengal hammer Lajong in I-league
KOLKATA: Laldanmawia Ralte scored a hat-trick as East Bengal thrashed Shillong Lajong 5-0 at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan here on Thursday to keep their I-league title bid alive.
Jobby Justin and Enrique Esqueda too scored a goal each to help lift East Bengal to third in the I-league standings, three points behind leaders Chennai City with a game in hand.
The hosts started well and sustained pressure early on paid off as Laldanmawia headed in a corner from Lalrindika Ralte to give his side the lead.
In the 27th minute, Laldanmaiwa found the back of the net again, this time curling the ball past Lajong keeper Phurba Lachenpa after receiving a long ball from centre back Borja Gomez.
A minute later, East Bengal added another courtesy of forward Justin.
Mexican striker Enrique Esqueda too joined the party, scoring at the stroke of half-time to make it 4-0.
Lajong started the second half on a more positive note but failed to score despite managing t o c r e a t e a f e w p r o misi ng moves. At the other end, Laldanmawia put t he f i nal nail i n Lajong’s coffin when he scored at the hour mark.
The result leaves Lajong rooted at t he bottom of t he standings with just 10 points from 16 games. East Bengal, on t h e o t h e r h a n d , wi l l p l a y Churchill Brothers (Feb 17) and Aizawl FC (Feb 25) at home before a t r i c ky away game against Real Kashmir, who are also in the title race.