Durand Cup: Sana brace drives Shillong Lajong to 5-0 win

Shillong Lajong FC defeated Mumbay FC 5-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong in a Group ‘E’ Durand Cup match on Saturday, with Everbrightson Sana scoring twice. The victory kept Lajong in contention for a quarterfinal berth.

Lajong’s goals came from Abhay Gurung, Tremiki Lamurong, Everbrightson Sana (two) and substitute Figo Syndai, and the team moved to the top of Group E with six points from two matches. The coaching staff’s side applied sustained pressure throughout the game and turned that control into a large winning margin against Mumbay FC’s defence.

Lajong broke the deadlock in first-half added time after sustained attacking play; Abhay Gurung finished from a rebound at 45+1 to open the scoring. Tremiki Lamurong extended the lead two minutes later at 45+3, putting Lajong 2-0 up before the interval.

On the restart, Everbrightson Sana converted a Lamurong pass to make it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. Sana then found the net again in the 64th minute to complete his brace and push the margin further.

Late in the game, substitute Figo Syndai headed home Lajong’s fifth in the 88th minute to round off the scoring. The five-goal performance highlighted Lajong’s offensive depth across the match.

In a separate Group F game at Guwahati, North East United FC beat Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 4-1; Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored from the penalty spot in the 6th minute and added a second in the 48th. Macarton Nickson scored in the 83rd minute and Ethyan Gonzalez finished the scoring at 90+6, while Junior Onguene had given Karbi Anglong an earlier goal in the 27th minute.

Shillong Lajong now top Group E with six points from two matches and remain in the race for a quarterfinal spot. North East United sit atop Group F with six points following their 4-1 win in Guwahati.