Shillong Lajong FC 5 (Daniel Gonçalves 40′, Figo Syndai 45+2′, Douglas Tardin 60′, 67′, 75′)
beat
SC Bengaluru 0

AIFF Media Team

SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC ran riot once again at the SSA Stadium as they beat Sporting Club Bengaluru 5-0 in the I-League 2024-25 on Monday, January 13, 2025.

The hosts led 2-0 at the break after goals from Daniel Gonçalves and Figo Syndai before Douglas Tardin scored the fastest hat-trick of the season, inside 15 minutes, to complete the rout for José Hevia’s side.

It wasn’t a eight-goal demolition that Lajong handed Rajasthan United last month, but still an utter humiliation for newly-promoted SC Bengaluru who remained rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points in eight games so far. Shillong Lajong’s third win of the campaign and fourth consecutive clean sheet at home lifted them to fourth place with 12 points.

It was a rough start to the match with plenty of crunching tackles flying around. It didn’t take referee Shantan Agrawal long to start brandishing cards and Shillong Lajong’s Kynsailang Khongsit and Aman Ahlawat, and SC Bengaluru’s Manoj Kannan were already in the book after just 17 minutes.

There weren’t many clear cut chances despite the action being end-to-end because of some wasteful finishing from both sides. However, Shillong Lajong changed that trend in the 40th minute as Daniel Gonçalves scored with a crisp volley from a Hardy Cliff Nongbri corner. The Brazilian defender, left unmarked by the visitors’ defence, opened up his body and side-footed it with his left boot. Japanese goalkeeper Yuya Kuriyama, making his debut for the Golden Tigers, could’ve done better as he got a big part of his glove to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

At the stroke of half-time, Figo Syndai doubled the lead after a solid team effort from the hosts. Phrangki Buam slipped a cutback from the right that landed perfectly outside the six-yard box for Syndai, who converted with ease.

The second half only belonged to one man – Tardin. The first of his 15-minute scoring spree was a tap-in from close range in the 60th minute after a howler from Kuriyama. The Japanese spilled what should’ve been a rather comfortable save from Damaitphang Lyngdoh’s long-range strike and Tardin duly punished it.

Seven minutes later, the Brazilian scored with a fine header into the bottom corner after a peach of a cross from the right by Khongsit. Tardin completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute, capitalising on a poor headed pass by Chongtham Kishan Singh. He raced into the box and deftly dinked it over an onrushing Kuriyama to make it five for Lajong.