Super Cup: FC Pune City 2, Shillong Lajong 3: Samuel penalty helps Lajong set up Bagan quarterfinal

Bhubaneswar, April 4: Shillong Lajong rallied from a 0-2 deficit to beat FC Pune City 3-2 in a thrilling match and booked a quarterfinal spot in the inaugural Super Cup football tournament here on Wednesday (April 4). The first half of the Round-of-16 match, played under heavy ground conditions at the Kalinga Stadium, was dominated by the Pune side, who led 2-1 at half time.

The youngest side @lajongfc in Hero Super Cup comes from behind to clinch a thrilling victory over @FCPuneCity. #HeroSuperCup #FCPCvLAJ pic.twitter.com/imtuZ3HzMu

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) April 4, 2018

Jonatan Lucca put Pune in the lead via a stunning free-kick in the 17th minute before his captain Marcelinho made it 2-0 five minutes later. Abdoulaye Koffi pulled one back for Shillong Lajong in the 29th minute as three goals were scored in 12 minutes despite the difficult ground conditions. There were puddles on several areas of the pitch.

Shillong Lajong made a remarkable recovery in the second half which they dominated. Rakesh Pradhan restored parity in the 61st minute before captain Samuel Lalmuanpuia scored the match-winner in the second minute of the added time.

The young turk Samuel Lalmuanpuia is a key player in the skilled @lajongfc midfield that literally moves like a ferris-wheel. If he can get going, very few teams will obstruct their road to #HeroSuperCup trophy. #OdishaTheNewSportsCapital pic.twitter.com/txN7tJh3oA

— Sports & Youth Dept. (@dsys_odisha) March 30, 2018

Adding to the woes of the Pune side, their captain Marcelinho was sent off after getting his second yellow card at the fag end of the match.

Pune's Ranko Popovic lined the Stallions in a 4-5-1 formation with Brazilian talisman Marcelinho as the target man upfront. Shillong gaffer Alison Kharsyntiew went for a 4-4-2 with Samuela playing behind Ivorian sniper Abdoulaye Koffi.

The game got its first goal in the 17th minute of the first half itself, when Shillong's South Korean defender Juho Oh fouled Marcelinho outside the Shillong box. In the resultant Pune free-kick, Italian Jonathan Lucca curled a wonderful right-footer into the Shillong goal, beating custodian Nidhin Lal all ends up.

Five minutes later, fellow Brazilian midfielder Diego, snatched a ball away from Shillong's Novin Gurung inside his own half and unleashed a solo run to find Marcelinho in space outside the Shillong box. The Brazilian took one touch to position the ball and then curled a left-footer to bring up a classy finish.

Pune were up 2-0, and looking to run away with the game when in the 29th minute, Nigerian Odafin snatched a ball outside the Pune box and drilled a pass onto the path of Koffi. The Ivorian slotted home calmly past Pune keeper Vishal Kaith to bring Shillong back into the game.

In the 61' minute, Shillong equalised, quite against the run of play. The goal had two Shillong defenders involved in it. Novin forwarded a ball ahead which was collected in the middle of the Pune half by Sheen, both of whom who had a great game for Shillong on the day. Sheen on the turn, pushed ahead and found an overlapping Rakesh Pradhan with a through pass on the right of the Pune box. The young left back trapped and placed it calmly beyond Vishal Kaith onto the left corner- a clinical finish which would have done any striker proud.

The goal energised Shillong Lajong and they continued to pepper the Pune defence with runs down the middle by Samuela, Sheen and Redeem Talang, often finding Koffi and Rakesh Pradhan, who was brilliant with his overlaps throughout, in inviting spaces.

Popovic ringed in the changes brining in Rohit Kumar for Isaac in the 66th minute and then Chesterpoul Lyngdoh for Ashique in the 74th. However Pune's frustration was beginning to show as Shillong was blocking everything to throw at them.

Then in the 90th minute, Samuela found Koffi inside the Pune box with a delectable chip and an onrushing Vishal Kaith made contact with Koffi to bring him down and referee Ramazwamy pointed to the spot. The captain drilled in a right footer past Vishal to close out a remarkable victory.

Match result:

FC Pune City 2 (Jonathan Lucca 17, Marcelinho 22) lost to Shillong Lajong 3 (Abdoulaye Koffi 29, Rakesh Pradhan 61, Samuel Lalmuanpuia 90+2 pen)