I-League 2015/16 – Uilliams maintains Shillong's unbeaten run at home
A spirited display from Shillong Lajong in the second half, along with Uilliams Bomfim's first goal of the season, gave the home side their second win of the campaign. It is one step forward, and two steps backward for Sporting, who failed to maintain the momentum they gained with the win over Aizawl in their last game.
Shillong Lajong XI: Vishal Kaith (GK); Konsham Singh, Yusuke Yamagata, Pritam Singh, Samuel Shadap; Aibor Khongjee, Penn Orji, Fabio, Rupert Nongrum; Bipin Singh, Uilliams Bomfim
Sporting Clube de Goa XI: Arindam Bhattacharya (GK); Fulganco Cardozo, Loveday Enyinnaya, Joseph Clement, Dharmaraj Ravanan; Glan Martins, Nicolas Fernandes, Rowllin Borges, Pratesh Shirodkar; Densil Theobald, Odafa Okolie
Sporting dominated most of the possession at the start of the game, while Shillong were more direct in their approach. The home side were looking to use Uilliams Bomfim as the target man upfront, with Fabio playing in a freer role behind him. Penn Orji made his presence felt from the midfield for Shillong. The Nigerian was involved in everything positive for Thangboi Singto's side.
The first big chance of the match arrived in the 23rd minute, and Sporting midfielder Rowllin Borges missed a golden opportunity right in front of the goal. Borges' header rattled the frame of the goal, from a position where it looked very hard to miss.
At the other end, Fabio Pena tried his luck from the distance, and was not too far from target, from a quick counter-attack.
Both the teams went into the half-time break tied at 0-0, in a half where very few chances were created.
Sporting continued their dominance in the second half, with Odafa Okolie proving to be a thorn in the flesh of the Shillong defenders. However, it was Shillong who took the lead against the run of play, with Uilliams scoring his first goal of the season, in the 59th minute.
A long ball from the midfield released Fabio on goal, and the Brazilian striker's shot was somehow kept out by Arindam Bhattacharya in the Sporting goal. However, Uilliams was first to the rebound and blasted it into the net, to give his team a 1-0 lead.
The Brazilian gained a spring in his steps after scoring that goal, and he continued to threaten the Sporting defence. Loveday Enyinnaya, who scored from a thunderous effort in his last match, came close to scoring an own goal in the 69th minute while trying to defend a dangerous cross from Uilliams.
Desperately in need of a goal, Sporting manager Mateus Costa brought on former Salgaocar forward Marcus Masceranhas, to add more bodies into the box. However, it was Shillong who were controlling the game since taking the lead, and the 28-year-old hardly saw the ball.
Shillong protected their lead with gusto as their defence, led by Japanese footballer Yusuke Yamagata, kept their third clean sheet of the season. Thangboi Singto's men will go into their next match against defending champions Mohun Bagan with a lot of confidence about gaining a positive result.
