Shillong Lajong further deepened Santosh Kashyap’s misery, as the Kolkatan giants were stunned by the Reds 2-0, in a matchday one game held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

After a goalless first half, Boithang Haokip put the hosts ahead in the 59^th minute, before Lalramluaha Hmar secured the three points for Desmond Bulpin’s side in the 91^st minute.

Desmond Bulpin gave new Korea DPR recruit, Minchol Son a start alongside Wailadmi Passah, while Ebi Sukore and Gbeneme Friday also made their league debuts for Lajong. Kashyap meanwhile was able to name his first choice strike force of Tolgay Ozbey and Odafa Okolie, while Syed Rahim Nabi and Jewel Raja were left on the bench.

The game stated tentatively, with neither side taking the initiative in the opening exchanges. However eventually the Mariners stamped their mark on the proceedings, dominating possession.

But the lack of match fitness of their highly fancied strike force of Odafa Okolie and Tolgay Ozbey showed, as neither were able to capitalize on any of the chances that came their way.

Lalthunmawia Ralte was in inspired form in-between the sticks while the central defensive pairing of Minchol Son and Passah showed commendable understanding between themselves for the hosts, who were as always, backed by a vociferous crowd.

Arindam Bhattacharya too was kept on his toes by the Lajong strikers, but the former Churchill Brothers goalkeeper dealt with all that came his way comfortably.

Eventually the two sides headed into the half-time break, tied at 0-0.

The home side started the second half as the more dominant outfit, as they prised open the Mariners defense on several occasions, but failed to find the finishing touch at the end of some stylish build-up play.

Bulpin’s side were further frustrated after Friday had a goal disallowed for offside. However the reprieve proved to be a short-lived one for the away side, as moments later, Haokip latched on to a rebound in the box, and powered the ball past a helpless Bhattacharya in goal, sending the fans into raptures.

Ozbey and Odafa meanwhile continued to find it difficult to get past Lajong’s custodian Ralte, and the Australian was eventually hauled off in favour of Stanley Okoroigwe as Mohun Bagan searched desperately for an equaliser.

However deep into injury time, they were caught out on the counter attack by Lalramluaha Hmar, who went past a defender, before expertly curling the ball past the Mariners custodian, to seal all three points for the hosts.

Santosh Kashyap after the final whistle admitted that his highly acclaimed strikers were lacking, both in form and fitness, and commented,"We created a lot of chances in the first half but they were not able to score."

"Lajong is a good team which could upset big teams on any given day and their kick-and-rush football gave the visitors a hard time," he concluded.

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