Sreenidi Deccan FC 5 (David Castañeda Muñoz 11′, 16′, Rosenberg Gabriel 71′, William Alves 82′ p, Aman Ahlawat 90+7′ og)
drew with
Shillong Lajong FC 5 (Douglas Tardin 4′, 15′, 77′, Phrangki Buam 21′, Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli 90+1′)

AIFF Media Team

HYDERABAD: HYDERABAD: The Round Nine match between Sreenidi Deccan and Shillong Lajong FC on Saturday, January 18, 2025, was perhaps the most interesting and intriguing encounter of the I-League 2024-25 season till date as it ended in a frantic 5-5.

The high-scoring battle at the Deccan Arena that lasted nearly a hundred minutes saw the fortunes fluctuating at rapid intervals. Shillong Lajong FC took the lead five times and yet Sreenidi Deccan scored an equaliser on each and every occasion forcing the visitors to split the points.

The 10 goals, highest in an I-League game this season, were equally split – five in each half. The first five came in the opening 21 minutes itself, and it remained 3-2 in favour of Lajong for the next 50 minutes. Five more goals arrived between the 71st and the seventh minute of injury time as both sides had to settle for a point.

For the visitors, Douglas Tardin netted a second hat-trick in as many games and took the lead in the Golden Boot race with nine goals. The Brazilian picked up from where he left off in the 5-0 win over SC Bengaluru earlier this week. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute after pickpocketing Faysal Shayesteh in the box and slotting into the bottom corner on the turn.

David Castañeda led the charge for Sreenidi Deccan, scoring their first goal in the 11th minute with an exquisite first-time finish from an Abhishek Ambekar cross from the left. Just four minutes later, Tardin poached his second after his countryman Renan Paulino picked him out in the penalty area with a cushioned header.

Castañeda equalised again for Sreenidi with the next kick of the game. Literally. Directly from the kick-off. Catching Lajong goalkeeper Manas Dubey off his line, he audaciously let it fly from the centre spot and the ball landed perfectly under the crossbar to make it 2-2.

But once again, Lajong retook the advantage five minutes later. A bullet strike from the top of the box by Buam blitzed past Ubaid CK’s near post and into the net.

It was only until the 71st minute until the goalfest resumed again. Rosenberg Gabrial scored Sreenidi’s third equaliser with a thumping header off another Ambekar cross. That only reignited Lajong’s spark as they churned out another goal. Buam continued his sizzling work down the right, getting the better of Eli Sabiá before cutting it back for Tardin near the by-line. The Brazilian had ample time to take a touch and thrash it home from four yards out to complete his second hat-trick of the season.

Then it was the turn of Sreenidi’s Brazilian to join the scoresheet. William Alves, who had just come on three minutes earlier, earned a penalty after being pulled down by Paulino. He stepped up himself and sent Dubey the wrong way for Sreenidi’s fourth equaliser in the 82nd minute.

And still, the drama was far from over. Neither the teams learned from their defensive frailties, nor were they keen on settling for a draw. Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli scored Lajong’s fifth in the 91st minute when he headed Kynsailang Khongsit’s cross and then converted the rebound after Aryan Lamba had saved it. The substitute surely must have thought he had scored the winner, no matter the trend of the match.

But for the fifth time, Sreenidi fought back. Ambekar, who had two assists already, got another one of sorts when his long throw was kicked into the Lajong goal by Aman Ahlawat with a miscued clearance.

While the scoreline didn’t change again, the drama continued until the last kick. Sreenidi were reduced to 10 as Mohammad Sajid Dhot was sent off for a last-man challenge on Tardin. Then the visitors had the ball in the net for the sixth time as Ahlawat’s header was turned into the goal by a Lajong shirt at the far post, however, the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside.

Both sides climbed one place each on the table with the point. After nine games each, Lajong are now fourth with 13 points, while Sreenidi are sixth with 11.