I-League Media Team

SHILLONG: A Cornell Glen hat-trick in the second half saved the day for Shillong Lajong FC as they managed to come back from a goal down to beat Bharat FC 3-1 in their Hero I-League match at the JN Stadium here on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead in the fifth minute after earning a free kick on the right. Curled into the box, the Lajong defenders were a little slow to react, allowing Omar Jarrun to get the touch required to send the ball into the net past goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia.

The Reds have been guilty of conceding early on before and they tried their all to find the equaliser, with David Ngaihte being particularly active on the right flank, though he was substituted for Milan Singh on the half hour.

A few minutes before that Uilliams Souza Silva created the best chance the hosts had in the first session with a free kick that he thundered into the defensive wall. The Brazilian then went for the rebound, but his shot on target was brilliantly saved by Bharat goalie Arindam Bhattacharjee.

Former SLFC player Subash Singh also narrowly missed out when his running shot on goal hit the side of the net in the 33rd minute. A brilliant tackle from Khelemba Meitei later on in the half prevented Subash from once again from executing.

Bharat FC brought on Kris Bright at the start of the second session, but the New Zealander had little impact. Instead the 45 minutes belonged to Glen, who delivered goals in the 53rd, 72nd and 75th minute, as the Bharat FC defence broke down. By virtue of this hat-trick, Glen also took his season’s tally to 13 goals.

The first goal saw the Trinidadian unmarked when a long ball forward was sent in his direction. With just one defender behind but another one sprinting to intercept, Glen had to react quickly, which he did with a exquisite touch past the diving Bhattacharjee.

Around 20 minutes later a Zodingliana pass to Penn Orji was used to brilliant effect when the Nigerian structured a forward pass that found Glen open once again and the striker fired in the ball for the lead.

Lajong made it 3-1 with a goal that came as rather a surprise when Glen spun around and fired in a long distance strike that was aimed perfectly.

Bharat did not look like pulling things back at this point. In fact Lajong looked like they could have scored a couple more goals during the few remaining minutes but they will still be thrilled with three against the formidable Bharat FC, which will help them in their campaign to stay well away from the relegation zone.

Hero of The Match: Cornell Glen (SLFC)