Agencies

Shillong

Mohammedan Sporting’s lengthy wait to win their maiden I-League title lastly got here to an finish as they edged out Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 on Saturday, on the SSA Stadium.

The Black and White Brigade, now garnered an unassailable 52 factors from 23 matches; their closest rivals, Sreenidi Deccan FC, are eight factors behind with two video games to play.

The Argentine ahead Alexis Gomez produced a second of magic within the first minute itself, when he noticed Lajong keeper Neitho Chalieu off his line, and chopped it goalwards from simply contained in the midway mark, because the ball sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and nestled into the online.

The job appeared half accomplished, however loads may occur over 90 minutes, and from what ensued over the course of the remainder of the primary half, it was amply clear that one purpose wouldn’t be sufficient for the Black and White Brigade.

It took Shillong only a quarter of an hour to get again into the sport, a Douglas Tardin penalty making it 1-1.

Padam Chettri, Mohammedan Sporting’s goalkeeper, who has had a stellar season, pulled off a superb save to take care of parity simply earlier than the half-time break, as he palmed away a shot by Marcos Rudwere from
point-blank vary.

The dwelling facet began with the identical tempo within the second half, however the desk toppers managed the state of affairs nicely. They stayed again and waited for the chance that quickly offered itself.

Kozlov, introduced on in its place through the first half, seized a possibility as he capitalized on a clearance, putting himself contained in the field with solely the goalkeeper to beat, a feat he completed within the 68th minute. This essential purpose offered the Black and White Brigade with a much-needed respite.

Making it a collective effort by the crew, the Mohammedan Sporting defenders put in an absolute shift in damage time to safe Mohammedan’s fifteenth win of the season.