I-League: Lajong score four past hapless Chennai

Chennai:  A fast improving Shillong Lajong made mincemeat of Chennai City FC by handing them a 4-1 drubbing in their I-League clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

Fabio Pena (38th minute), Issac Vanmalsawma (65th), Bipin Singh (77th) and Dipanda Dicka (79th) scored for the hosts as they strolled to victory. Chennai pulled one back through Haroon Amiri in the 89th minute.

The win took Lajong to fourth place with 16 points from 10 games. Chennai remained eighth having eight points from 10 engagements. 

In the first half, substitute Pena got rid of his marker to turn in Vanmalsawma's free kick after sustained spell of good play by the visitors.

The goal vindicated Lajong coach Thangboi Singto's decision to replace Redeem Tlang with Pena.

It was all about Vanmalsawma's peach of a free kick in the second period. The 20-year old curled the ball over the wall and into the bottom corner past home keeper Karanjit Singh who had no chance.

The goal spurred Singto's wards up as they revved up their attacking frequency keeping Chennai defenders on the edge.

Bipin Singh made the most of some slack defending from the hosts by whipping in a 20-yard curler that nestled into the top corner after darting inside rival territory.

Two minutes later, it was 4-0 in Lajong's favour as the I-League's top scorer Dipanda Dicka took his goal tally to eight with a delicate strike after evading Dharamraj Ravanan.