SRINAGAR, DEC 11 : Real Kashmir thumped Shillong Lajong 6-1 at the TRC Turf Ground in Srinagar on Tuesday afternoon courtesy of a brace from Abednego Tetteh.
The Ghanian striker opened and closed the scoring (25′,83′) for Kashmir with Mason Robertson (37′), Nagen Tamang (42′), Gnohere Krizo (50′), and Surchandra Singh (74′) scoring in the intermittent period. Whereas the only consolation goal for Lajong came in the 28th minute when Samuel Kynshi picked up a fortunate goal in the first half.
David Robertson named an unchanged side that won 1-0 against Aizawl. Danish Farooq continued to start on the bench and was once again used a substitute later in the second half.
Whereas, Alison Kharsyntiew made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 to NEROCA in a North Eastern derby at home. Nabin Rabha and Lalawmpuia Hnamte failed to make the cut in the starting XI as they were replaced by Hardy Nongbri and Sheen Stevenson Sohktung.
It was an entertaining first-half with four goals scored. Real Kashmir opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Krizo bamboozled three Lajong defenders before setting up Abednedo Tetteh who in turn made no mistake to push the ball past Neithovilie Chalieu.
It was a freak goal that brought Lajong back into the game when Bilal Khan’s misplaced clearance struck the body of Lyngdoh Kynshi and ricocheted back into his own net.
But Kashmir maintained its ascendancy on the game and it was a matter of when and not if that the hosts would restore their lead. In the 37th minute, Mason Robertson scored from a flag-kick floated in by Surchandra Singh which sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
Within six minutes Kashmir added one more to their tally when Nagen Tamang found the net to finish off a brilliant move from midfield. Bazie Armand started knitting the passes and it was Tetteh who split open Lajong’s defence with a through ball to set-up the left winger in front of goal.
Kashmir went on to score three more in the second half much to the embarrassment of Karsyntiew’s side.
Krizo scored his second goal of the campaign when he converted from the spot within five minutes of resumption after referee Santosh Kumar pointed to the spot following a foul on the Ivorian by Aibanbha Dohling.
In the 75th minute the snow leopards breached Lajong’s defence for the fifth time when Surchandra Singh rifled in a shot from close range taking advantage of a goal mouth melee, after Tamang’s initail attempt was half-heartedly cleared from the goal line.
Keeping in mind that it was the last home match in 2018, coach Robertson gave a run to local boys Danish Farooq and Shahnawaz Bashir in the last quarter of the match. The latter had an immediate impact on the game as he delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left flank inside the box for Tetteh to head home from sniffing distance of goal.
After this defeat Lajong find themselves rooted to the relegation spot with just four points from eight matches and with a goal difference of -12. The Red Dragons will continue their journey on the road as they will be up against Mohun Bagan on December 23, whereas Real Kashmir will get back to action on December 15 against Gokulam Kerala, away from home. (PTK)
