Shillong Lajong Survive Langsning Fightback to Reach Durand Cup Quarter-finals

Shillong Lajong FC secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw against local rivals Langsning FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday.

The result was enough for Shillong Lajong to finish top of Group E with seven points, while Langsning ended their campaign in second place with five points. The match also had wider consequences for the tournament, with East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC confirming their places in the quarter-finals as the two best second-placed teams across the groups.

For Shillong Lajong, the evening was ultimately about qualification. For Langsning, it was about chasing an unlikely knockout-stage opportunity until the final whistle. And for more than 90 minutes, neither side was willing to settle.

Shillong Lajong started with purpose, winning a free kick inside the opening 30 seconds, with Phrangki Buam sending a dangerous delivery into the penalty area. The early exchanges immediately established the character of the match. Langsning threatened through long throws and transitions, while Shillong Lajong looked to build attacks through their midfield and wide areas. 

The home side came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when Everbrighton Sana squared the ball across an unguarded goal, but Abhay Gurung could not make the necessary contact. The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 26th minute.

Joedson Dos Santos attempted to find Jota with a line-breaking pass, but Langsning captain Atlanson Kharmaw intercepted. However, the ball fell loose and Jota reacted quickest. The forward drove into the penalty area before calmly slotting the ball past Rajat Paul Lyngdoh.

Four minutes later, Jota doubled the advantage. Sana produced an inventive backheel to release the forward, who showed excellent footwork to evade his marker before cutting inside and finding the far corner. At 2-0, Shillong Lajong appeared to be in control.

But Langsning refused to retreat.

Even before half-time, Langsning continued searching for a route back into the contest. Syed Ahmed forced a smart save from Shillong Lajong goalkeeper Ranit Sarkar, while Kyrmenskhem Mukhim headed over from close range. Shillong Lajong almost extended their advantage shortly after the restart, but Langsning goalkeeper Lyngdoh kept his team in the contest.

Two minutes later, Langsning finally got their reward. In the 49th minute, Chusrang Sangma delivered from the left and found Mukhim unmarked. The forward made no mistake from close range, heading the ball beyond Sarkar to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The goal changed the momentum of the contest. Langsning began pushing higher, while Shillong Lajong increasingly found themselves defending deeper. The pressure eventually produced an equaliser in the 63rd minute. Mukhim showed composure in the build-up, leaving a crossfield pass for Denelson Pyngrope. His delivery into the penalty area was met by Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem, whose towering header made it 2-2.

From two goals down, Langsning were suddenly level.

Sana restores Shillong Lajong's lead.

The match then became increasingly open, with both sides continuing to attack rather than simply protecting the point. Shillong Lajong created opportunities of their own, with Buam finding space inside the box in the 69th minute before Lyngdoh blocked his attempted cutback. The decisive moment appeared to arrive in the 83rd minute. Captain Kenstar Kharshong delivered an inviting cross from the left, finding Sana unmarked at the far post. Sana met the ball with a composed header that beat Lyngdoh and restored Shillong Lajong's advantage.

At 3-2, Shillong Lajong were just minutes away from securing their place at the top of Group E. But Langsning had one final response.

Ahmed completes a dramatic comeback.

Deep into stoppage time, Langsning won a corner and opted for a short routine. The resulting cross was not properly cleared by the Shillong Lajong defence, allowing Syed Ahmed to rise at the back post and head the ball into the net. The 90+1 equaliser completed Langsning's remarkable comeback from 2-0 down.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/neroca-fc-rally-past-nine-man-fc-raengdai-to-end-durand-cup-campaign-with-a-win

There was still no time for another twist. Shillong Lajong held on through the closing stages to secure the point they needed, while Langsning's late push for a winner ultimately fell short. The 3-3 draw meant Shillong Lajong finished the group stage unbeaten, collecting seven points from their three matches and securing top spot.

Langsning, meanwhile, ended with five points and a performance that demonstrated their ability to compete with one of the tournament's leading sides.

The result also settled the wider qualification picture. East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC advanced as the two best second-placed teams, joining the group winners and other qualified sides in the knockout stage. For Shillong Lajong, attention now turns to the quarter-finals.

Their group-stage campaign has provided plenty of evidence of their attacking threat, but the 3-3 draw also highlighted areas that will need attention in the knockout rounds. After taking a two-goal lead, conceding twice in the second half and then allowing another late equaliser, the team will know that defensive concentration will become even more important when one mistake could end their tournament.

Still, finishing first in Group E gives Shillong Lajong plenty of reason for optimism. They have scored freely, remained unbeaten and shown the ability to respond when matches become difficult. Langsning may have denied them a winning finish, but Shillong Lajong secured the result that mattered most.

The quarter-finals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup now await, with Shillong Lajong entering the knockout stage as Group E winners and one of the teams still chasing the historic trophy.