East Bengal bow 1-2 to Shillong Lajong in Federation Cup

British coach Trevor James Morgan's fortunes as the new East Bengal coach failed to change as his side slumped to their second defeat in a row to hosts Shillong Lajong FC, losing 1-2 in the first leg of the Federation Cup quarter-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

It was Lajong's second win against East Bengal in a matter of seven days as they earlier beat the Kolkata side 1-0 in an I-League home match at the same venue. Morgan has now lost both his first two competitive matches in his second tenure as the East Bengal coach.

Lajong's Konsham Chinglensana Singh (33') opened the scoring as Do Dong-hyun (44') equalised right before half-time. Fabio Pena (62') hit the winning goal.

Even though Lajong were reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute after Robin Gurung was given marching orders for elbowing substitute Avinash Ruidas, East Bengal failed to take advantage of an extended seven-minute stoppage time.

Jaong will take a one goal advantage into the second leg to be played in Kolkata on Wednesday but East Bengal have an away goal that could prove crucial.

Lajong enjoyed early advantage and their hard work paid off three minutes after the half hour mark when Chinglensana headed one into the nets after a fine corner kick from Bipin Singh.

However, the joy of the local fans was short lived as barely 11 minutes later Do Dong-hyun converted after being delivered with a fine ball by Ranti Martins.

Following a long ball forward from Lalrindika Ralte, Ranti caught it just before it went out and flicked it over for a charging Do Dong-hyun to head past Vishal Kaith for the equaliser as both side went into the break tied 1-1.

Pena then sealed the fate of the match in the second session scoring with a weak shot from a melee.

In another match, hosts Mumbai FC went down 0-1 against Sporting clube de Goa at the Cooperage ground in a quarter-final first leg encounter after conceding a goal scored by Sumit Passi in the dying stages of the match.

--IANS

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