I-League 2018-19: Shillong Lajong 1-3 East Bengal – 5 talking points

#3 Lajong’s mantra – pass, pass and pass

How often do we see Indian players making 20 or 30 passes on the field? Isn’t it something unnatural? Well, not for the Lajong boys though. Unlike other Indian players, who mostly rely on long balls and try to shoot from a distance, the Lajong players showed how to make an attack with countless passes.

Lajong started on an attacking note from the very first minute. They were targeting the space behind the defenders and running after every ball. Despite facing a more experienced side, the Lajong boys never panicked and tried their best on the field. They cleverly used the flanks to penetrate East Bengal’s defence. They were brilliant off the ball also.

One major improvement from this side is, they are using set-piece options quite intelligently. Samuel Lalhimnpuia hit the woodwork from a brilliant free-kick in the first quarter of the game. They looked dangerous every time from the corner and eventually scored one also, denying East Bengal a clean-sheet.