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Shillong Lajong faced off against ISL semi-finalist FC Pune City in the Super Cup round of 16 in Bhubaneswar. FC Pune City came into the game wanting the tie and progressing into the next round, while Lajong were looking to upset the bookmakers and produce an upset.
FC Pune City had a really good ISL season, as they played in the semifinals for the first time in their ISL history.
Lajong, on the other hand, had a hot and cold season, as they had some really good games, but then there were games they would want to forget.
The game started at a brisk pace as both wanted to score early, but FC Pune City got hold of the game early and scored two goals within 22 minutes.
The first half ended with the scoreboard reading 2-1 in favour of the stallions, but in the second half the tables turned and the Reds from Shillong went on to dominate the game and finally managed to win the game 3-2 and script one of the biggest upsets in the ongoing Super Cup.
On that note lets take a look at the player ratings
FC Pune City
Vishal Kaith (5.5/10): Vishal Kaith was playing against his former club for the first time, and he was called into action a couple of times in the first half, and he did well to save most of the attempts at goal.
Kaith will be unhappy with his decision to go for the ball which gifted Lajong the penalty.
Sarthak Golui (5/10): Sarthak Golui was busy tonight but mostly in the Lajong half, he overlapped very often, and made some good passes to Ashique.
He was stable while defending in the first half but looked shaky in the second half. Golui in the second was kept busy and confined to his defensive duties by the likes of Reedem and Rakesh.
Gurtej Singh (5/10): Gurtej Singh didn’t have much to do during the game and was usually up to the task, but there were more than a few instances when the Lajong forwards managed to get past him with ease.
Manuel Jesus (5/10): Jesus was a big presence in the Pune backline and did win a lot of balls for Pune, he also broke down many Lajong attacks.
Jesus too like his defensive partner was beaten on a couple of occasions. He was mainly at fault to let Rakesh Pradhan run through the Pune defence to score the equaliser.
Sahil Panwar (5.5/10): Sahil Panwar had a busy game as he had to run down the flanks all night. He was kept busy in defence by the Lajong wingers. He couldn’t get in good crosses into the box.
Marko Stankovic (6/10): Stankovic had a very good first half, as he controlled the game from midfield, he won a lot of second balls in the first half too.
The scenario changed a lot in the second half as the Lajong midfielders started controlling more of the game.
Issac Vanmalsawma (4.5/10): Issac Vanmalsawma was up against his boyhood club, and couldn’t really do anything meaningful down the flanks. He did though provide two beautiful passes to Marcelinho who missed the mark.
Jonathan Lucca (7.5/10): Scored an absolute screamer of a freekick to open the scoring for FC Pune City. Looked to be the man who did most of the creative duties for FC Pune City. Jonathan Lucca had a good first half, but was missing from action in the second half.
Ashique Kuruniyan (4/10): Ashique Kuruniyan had missed the easiest chance of the match when he shot over from just two yards out with no keeper in sight. He couldn’t do much from the flanks too, and his passes were also poor.
Diego Carlos (7/10): Diego Carlos was the main creator of chances for FC Pune City, he was the player who provided Marcelinho with the assist. He had a few pops at goal too but saw his efforts saved by Nidhin Lal.
Marcelinho (6.5/10): Marcelinho doubled FC Pune City’s lead in the 22nd minute through an absolute gem of a left foot curler from the outside of the box.
He was the player who troubled the Lajong defence the most. Marcelinho was sent off in the dying moments of the game for an off the ball jab at Samuel.
Substitutes
Rohit Kumar(5/10): Rohit Kumar was introduced so that he could stabilise the defence but instead created more problems for his defenders. He also commited some unwanted fouls too.
Chesterpaul Lyngdoh (4/10): The former Mohun Bagan midfielder hardly had any touches of the ball and couldn’t do anything meaningful for his side.
Shillong Lajong
Nidhin Lal (7.5/10): Had a big hand in ensuring that Lajong won the game. Made some brilliant saves and looked stable and unfazed by the occasion under the bar. His save from that Carlos shot will be one for the collectors.
Rakesh Pradhan (8/10): Undoubtedly one of the best players on the pitch, Rakesh Pradhan played in an unusual position of an advanced left wing back.
He scored the all-important equalising goal which turned the game on its head. Pradhan also had a good game in keeping Kuruniyan quiet in defence. He also was one of the few players on the pitch who was putting in good crosses into the box.
Kynsailang Khongsit (6.5/10): The youngster was up against Vansalwma and made sure that the ex Lajong man didn’t trouble the back line often. Khongsit was though beaten often by Diego.
Laurence Doe (6.5/10): Laurence Doe was a rock in defence today. He looked shaky in the initial moments of the game, but after the lemon break he was as steady as a rock. He made some crucial block and interceptions.
Juho Oh (7/10): The man who had the job of marking Marcelinho, Juho Oh had an average game. He was poor in the first half but upped his game in the second half.
He learned from his mistakes and made sure Marcelinho wasn’t given much space in the second half.
Novin Gurung (6/10): Novin Gurung had the task of marking Carlos and the young lad was up to the task.
Even though Carlos managed to create some chances for his teammates, he never was given space inside the box.
Gurung also covered for Pradhan when the left-back was busy overlapping and attacking.
Daniel Odafin (6.5/10): Acted as the defensive blocked in the midfield, he did play some good passes.
Had an assist to his name when provided a good pass to Koffi which helped him score in the first half.
Odafin had a big role in ensuring Lajong maintained their stability in the second half after scoring the equaling goal.
Reedem Tlang (7/10): Reedem Tiang showcased again why he is so highly rated by pundits. He ran his heart down the flanks, and also tracked back to help his defenders.
The way he moved into the centre to close down the Pune midfielders was really praiseworthy.
Sheen Stevenson (7.5/10): Sheen Stevenson played in a different position than his normal position as the striker, he played in just behind Koffi and provided the all-important assist to Rakesh for the equalising goal.
Stevenson had two good chances to score but struck directly into the keeper's palms.
Samuel Lalmuanpuia (8/10): The 19-year-old captain of Lajong was phenomenal today, he went about doing his job in a quiet manner.
He closed down Lucca and Marko in lightning quick fashion. Was the man who scored the winning penalty with surgical precision and was the man who started the build-up play for the all-important equalising goal.
Abdoulaye Koffi (7.5/10): Koffi scored one for Lajong and reduced the margin in the first half. Koffi though did have some problems with his positioning and first touch. He won the all important penalty in the 90th minute, which helped Lajong win the game.
Substitutes
Alen Deory (N/A): Was brought on in the 94th minute to eat up time. And couldn’t even manage a touch of the ball.
