Lajong beat Chennai to win third straight home match

SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC won their third straight home match with a 2-0 win against Chennai City FC in the I-league football tournament here on Tuesday.

Dipanda Dicka gave the hosts an early breakthrough in the 20th minute and followed it up with another goal in the 65th minute.

The victory takes Lajong to nine points from six matches while Chennai remain static at four points.

Buoyed by two wins on the trot at home against Minerva Punjab and Mumbai FC, Lajong started the proceedings on a dominant note looking to control the game from the outset.

The first real chance came Lajong’s way when Dipanda crossed one back to Redeem Tlang whose shot got blocked.

Dipanda then put the home team ahead with a header.

Chennai did look like making a comeback towards the end of the first half but solid defending kept them at bay as they went into half time trailing 0-1.

Dipanda took the game away from the visitors by scoring from close range in the second half.

Chennai’s efforts thereafter to stage a comeback bore no fruit as the hosts romped home to another victory.

On the other hand, Buoyed by first four consecutive wins since November 2012, East Bengal will aim to continue the streak against Mumbai FC in an I-league game here on Wednesday.

Top of the table on better goal difference over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, they pumped in five goals against bottom placed Minerva Punjab FC in their last game.

Against Mumbai, the Kolkata giants don’t have a good record and have won four times, two less than their counterparts in their 16 meetings so far. Six matches have ended in a draw.

They will be boosted by the return of Indian international centre back Arnab Mondal, out of action after picking up an injury during his ISL commitments for ATK.