Shillong Lajong oust East Bengal from Fed Cup, draw second leg to win in aggregate, enter semis

A PULSATING LATE GOAL from Uilliams Bomfin brought an end to a prolonged contest between East Bengal and Shillong Lajong where the latter club, an underdog in this double-header, ultimately overcame and overthrew the Kolkata giants in aggregate to earn a promotion to the Federation Cup semi-finals.

Lajong won the first leg of this contest, played at their own home ground, 2-1. But they were under pressure coming into this game because of their recent bad record at Barasat and the eagerness of the East Bengal team to come out on top; which they could do with a 1-0 win thanks to the away goal rule.

But much of that pressure went off Lajong's soldier thanks to a major error by Deepak Mondal. Bipin Singh had crept into the Red and Gold box, and let fly, but the ball hit Deepak's outstretched hand. The referee immediately blew for a penalty. Fabio, who scored in the previous leg, duly slotted the ball in. It was 0-1 17 minutes in, (1-3 in aggregate) and East Bengal now had a mountain to climb.

But minutes later it was a similar error from Lajong defender Nimdorjee Tamang. A shot by Do Dong-hyun hit Tamang's hand and now East Bengal had a penalty. Ranti Martins took the shot and scored. 1-1 (2-3).

Penn Orji, the Lajong medio who used to play for East Bengal, was instrumental in keeping things flowing for the Meghalaya club in the first leg, was being effective in his old stomping ground as well. He got close a couple of times and took shots, once finding the side netting.

But it was Lalrindika Ralte who changed the complexion of the game with his goal in 35 minutes in. He got the ball courtesy a selfless head-down by Ranti Martins at goalmouth. He swung his left foot - the same limb that produced that surreal Kolkata Derby goal in 2013 - and Vishal Kaith could only stand and watch as the ball curled into the far end of the post. East Bengal were leading 2-1, and the aggregate was now 3-3. It was even stevens, and anyone could take it now.

Early in the second half, Uilliams outran the East Bengal defenders and took a hard shot but Rehenesh made a great save out of it. Then Fabio Pena got a header in from close but it hit the post. 

Bernard Mendy came on as a substitute, much to the delight of the Barasat crowd. Ranti immediately fed him a ball that gave him a chance to score, but his shot went just above. 

As the minutes wore on the physical aspect of the game worsened. Ranti Martins and Konsham Singh had a collision, following which Ranti had a scuffle with the referee. Incidents broke out all over the pitch and finally the 90 minutes were over; the contest was tied on aggregate, and there was going to be extra time.

Nothing much happened in the first 15 minute period of extra time as both teams seemed to have switch to a safety-first approach. Penalties were looking inevitable when Penn Orji ran up and sent in a cross that Uilliams chested down and leaped up high to hammer the ball into the net.

It was over. East Bengal now needed 2 goals and there were only 5 minutes left. The home team players' body language changed; they knew it was all over. Inevitably, the match ended 2-2, with Shillong Lajong claiming victory by a 3-4 aggregate.

Once again, a small-budget team from North-East India had knocked out a heavyweight club to enter the Federation Cup semi-finals. Once again, East Bengal coach Trevor James Morgan had failed to get the maiden win against Shillong Lajong after many seasons spent coaching in India. Once again, a determined team heavy on youth and local talent that did not do so well in the I-League re-claimed a place of honour in the Indian football hierarchy at the Federation Cup. 

The magic of the premier cup championship in India that has been unfolding for a week now continues, and one can only guess what is in store in the upcoming rounds.