Starting Line-up:

Shillong Lajong received a 3-0 thrashing from Bengaluru when these teams met the last time away in the garden city. After earning four draws in a row, Thangboi Singto’s side seemed more confident about their fortunes going into the match against the 2013/14 I-League champions Bengaluru FC. A niggle to Brazilian striker Uilliams paved the way for a start for 17-year old Mizo boy Samuel Lalmuanpuia, in what was the only change for the home side from the last game against DSK Shivajians.

Udanta Singh has been a breath of fresh air for the Bengaluru side after his return from the South Asian Games and looked the best player on the pitch in the opening minutes. The Manipur lad first fired a volley wide off the net from just outside the box in the 5th minute, before running down the right from a quick counter attack to earn a free kick after Lajong custodian Vishal Kaith fouled him. 

If Udanta was everywhere on the right side, Bengaluru’s star striker Sunil Chhetri was almost missing on the left with no move coming from his side. On the other side, Shillong Lajong took an uncharacteristic approach of long balls and crosses in the final third in an attempt to find a way to the opening goal. Bengaluru’s center-back duo of Curtis Osano and John Johnson, who are more than six feet tall, bossed all the aerial duels in the first half against Samuel Lalmuanpuia, who looked half the height.

The home side received a glorious chance to level things up in the match just after the break only to see Samuel Lalmuanpuia hitting the cross bar from a corner with Amrinder stranded in no man’s land. Sensing the danger, Bengaluru slowed down the game in the midfield frustrating the home team and the fans, who searched for the equalizer. With time running out, Shillong coach Thangboi Singto brought on Uilliams in place of Rupert Nongrum to add more mettle to the attack, which was struggling against Osano and Johnson for the whole game.

The arrival of the Brazilian produced an instant impact with his fellow countrymen Fábio Pena receiving the ball outside the box to send in a thunderous shot, only to see Amrinder Singh diving full length to deny him. But it was all over for the home side in the 82nd minute after North Korean striker Kim Song-Yong flicked a corner from Udanta into the back of the net. With the win, Bengaluru cut Mohun Bagan's lead at the top to one.  

Starting Line-up:

Mumbai FC : Sanjiban Ghosh (GK), Pratik Chowdhary, Ashutosh Mehta, Clyde Fernandes, Anwar Ali, Cletus Paul, Darren Caldeira, Eric Brown (C), Clifford Miranda, Ryuki Kozawa, Jayesh Rane

In the other match of the day, Mumbai and newcomers Aizawl played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Cooperage stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. The home side had the perfect start to the match with the Aizawl defender handling the ball in the box. Japanese striker Ryuki Kozawa stepped up and smashed it past Zothanmawia in the Aizawl goal in the 3rd minute to open the scoring.

However, the scores were back to level in the 18th minute with Albert Zohmingmawia cutting through the Mumbai defence to smash the ball past the diving Sanjiban Ghosh. With both teams playing attacking football, the 1-1 scoreline was not going to be the end score, and it was proved right in the second half with Eric Brown smashing in a free kick between the two-man wall to put the home side once again in front. Similar to the first goal, Aizawl were back level within few minutes after a cross into the ball was put into his own goal by Syed Rahim Nabi. The score remained the same, as the match ended with both sides sharing the points.