Shillong Lajong FC ended Bengaluru FC's five-match winning streak when they held the defending champions to a 1-1 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
Australian striker Sean Rooney executed a difficult header to enable the visitors to take the lead in the first half, before a handball in the second half gave Lajong the chance to equalise, which they did through Uilliams Souza Silva.
The game got off to a slow start with neither side really making much impact. The first 44 minutes saw rare shots on goal, but the action picked up in the 45th minute with Rooney's goal.
After wasting an earlier free kick, Bengaluru earned a second on the right flank a few yards outside the box. Taken by local boy Eugeneson Lyngdoh, the kick was a little low, but Rooney crouched down and managed to steer the ball into the back of the net past Lajong goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia.
Being a goal down might have been a little disheartening, but the hosts did not show it when they retook the field in the second session of play.
Robin Singh was brought on for Rooney after half time and Bengaluru continued to look like they just had the edge over the home team. However, a 62nd minute corner proved crucial as the resulting ball into the box was handled by a BFC player, providing the Reds a spot kick, which Uilliams converted with ease.
The equaliser also provided a much needed spurt of energy in Lajong's ranks and Bengaluru goalie Lalthuammawia Ralte, who is a familiar figure in Shillong as he used to keep for SLFC, was kept busy as a bee with having to make a slew of saves from strong attempts by Penn Orji, Milan Singh, Seiminlen Doungel and a brilliant diving effort off Uilliams in the 72nd minute.
It was a desperate effort from the home team, who were without suspended Cornell Glen, Aiborlang Khongjee, Robin Gurung and Joseph Lalfakzuala. Despite missing such key players, they were still able to hold off the charge of the defending champs, who would have loved a victory in Shillong to spur their chances of winning the title, for which they are involved in a fight with Mohun Bagan.
There were some hot tempers towards the end of the game, which saw Milan and Shankar Sampangiraj both booked for a scrap in stoppage time, but AIFF referee of the year MB Santosh Kumar settled the situation and the last couple of minutes were seen off with the two clubs unable to score the winner.
