Internet Desk: Royal Wahingdoh FC rallied to thrash city rivals Shillong Lajong FC 5-1 in the first U-18 I-League Shillong-Guwahati zone match played here this season at MFA Ground on Monday.
In what turned out to be a rather lopsided contest, Lajong drew first blood courtesy a Robert Khongjoh goal in the 13th minute.
Thereafter it was RWFC all along as the Royals, who rode on a Sirandeep Moran hat-trick (28’, 48’, 76’), netted as many as five goals and looked good for at least one more if not for a missed penalty by Narayan Chettri it the fag end of the tie. Apart from Moran, Binaton Singh (20’) and Tajuddin (45+2’) scored a goal each.
Earlier, Lajong started on a bright note going ahead on the 13th minute when Khongjoh found the back of the nets.
However, their joy was short lived as barely seven minutes later Binaton struck the back of the nets when he gave direction to a close range free kick from Lalrin Mawia.
In the 28th minute the Royals went ahead of their rivals after a beautiful through pass was carried forward and placed to perfection by Moran.
A 3-1 lead was averted few minutes later by the rival custodian who made a diving save to deny RWFC’s Suraj Rawat. But Lajong’s first half misery was far from over. At 45+2 minutes Tajuddin headed one home to make it 3-1 at half time.
Crossing over, it took Moran only three minutes to extend the lead further. Moran scored his brace of a well directed corner kick taken by a teammate as Royals set pretty at 4-1. If things were already bad for Lajong they were made worse by a foul inside the box which resulted in a penalty for RWFC. Moran did the needful to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-1 for the Royals in the 76th minute.
The score should have been 6-1 but Narayan Chettri missed a penalty minutes later as Lajong were saved more blushes.
In the end it was a comprehensive win for the Royals who had beaten SAI North East by a similar margin in the opening encounter of the U-18 I-League.