Indian Navy falters in second half, Sana and Damit seal Semi-finals spot for Shillong Lajong in Durand Cup 2025
The first quarterfinal of the Durand Cup 2025 was a thrilling encounter between Shillong Lajong and Indian Navy FT, played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong. The match, which started at 4:00 PM IST, was streamed for football enthusiasts worldwide.
In the early stages of the game, both teams displayed their attacking intent. In the 8th minute, Pintu Mahata of Indian Navy attempted a shot from distance, but it went over the crossbar. A few minutes later, Buam of Shillong Lajong made a run down the right flank, but was blocked by an Indian Navy defender.
Indian Navy took the lead in the 16th minute, thanks to Vijay Marandi's goal. However, Shillong Lajong pushed hard in search of an equaliser in the second half. In the 24th minute, a sharp through ball found Roshan of Indian Navy in a promising position, but his first touch let him down.
The turning point of the match came in the 77th minute when Damaitphang Lyngdoh equalised for Shillong Lajong. The excitement was not over yet, as Sana scored a penalty for Shillong Lajong in the 82nd minute, putting them ahead 2-1. Sana, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo, copied the Portuguese footballer's "Siuu" celebration after scoring the penalty.
Shillong Lajong came close to levelling the score earlier in the second half with a header, but the effort went over the crossbar. Tremiki was substituted for Figo by Shillong Lajong in the 70th minute, a move that seemed to invigorate the team.
In the 31st minute, Sana of Shillong Lajong glided past his marker with ease, but his cross was blocked by the Indian Navy defence, resulting in a corner. Despite Indian Navy's efforts to build on their lead and put the game beyond reach in the second half, Shillong Lajong's determination paid off, leading to their 2-1 victory.
With this win, Shillong Lajong advances to the semifinals of the Durand Cup 2025. The team will be hoping to continue their impressive form and potentially lift the trophy.
[1] Shillong Lajong FC [2] Durand Cup [3] Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong [4] Indian Navy Football Team [5] Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah
- EUROPEAN-LEAGUES and PREMIER-LEAGUE were not mentioned in the text, but considering the context of football, one could speculate that Shillong Lajong might aspire to emulate the competitive spirit and success of such European leagues and the Premier League in the future.
- Despite the EXCITEMENT and THRILL of the Durand Cup match between Shillong Lajong and Indian Navy FT, it's clear that SPORTS like football bring a unique JOY and PASSION to both players and fans.
- As HEALTH is crucial for athletic performance, it's interesting to note that EVERBRIGHTSON SANA MYLLIEMPDAH of Shillong Lajong, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo, successfully scored a penalty and copied the Portuguese footballer's celebrated "Siuu" celebration, displaying his determination and skill in the game.
