I-League: Shillong Lajong fall prey to Real Kashmir

I-League debutants Real Kashmir hammered northeastern side Shillong Lajong by a scoreline of 6-1 in an I-League encounter played at the TRC Ground in Kashmir on Tuesday. The Snow Leopards from the northern frontier looked very comfortable against a young Lajong line-up who was outdone by the experience and physicality.

The Kashmiri side went into the interval being 3-0 up, thanks to brilliant strikes from Abednedo Tetteh, Mason Robertson and Nagen Tamang. There was no love lost between the two teams as the home side slotted three more in the second half, courtesy Gnohere Krizo, another one from Tetteh and Surchandra Singh to pile up more misery on Alison Kharsyntiew's all Indian squad of youngsters, infact, all NorthEast squad, to be precise. Although Samuel Kynshi cancelled out Tetteh's opener in the 28th minute, but that was very soon out of the context as the Reds failed to limit their opponents.

While most would have welcomed the bold decision to go with all home grown players back then, but Lajong's poor run of form in the I-League this season reflects the side's inability to cope with the big boys. The team has the talent to turn on matches, in the likes of skipper Samuela, Phrangki Buam and others, but they seem to be lacking the experience to keep the momentum and hold on to the nervy moments.