Shillong, Aug 3: Langsning FC announced themselves on the national stage in emphatic fashion, tearing through Mumbay FC 5-0 in a dazzling Durand Cup debut at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.
The “Men in Pink” were held scoreless in a frantic first half despite bossing possession and peppering the Mumbay goal with 10 shots but came alive after the break to deliver a performance their home supporters will not forget. The breakthrough arrived six minutes after the restart when Syed Ahmed rose to thunder home Langsning’s seventh corner of the evening. That goal unlocked the floodgates. Ahmed struck again in the 65th minute, meeting a curling cross with a textbook header to complete his brace and put the hosts firmly in command.
Mumbay pinned deep and chasing shadows, offered a little in reply, with a rare Afzar Noorani strike from distance the only real test for keeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh.
Langsning saved their best for last. Kyrmenskhem Mukhim slotted the third in the 89th minute, before stoppage time produced a grandstand finish. In the 94th minute Dibormi Chanlang Ki O Kassar bent a sublime left-footer into the top corner from a crowded box, and barely 60 seconds later substitute Samuel Phawa unleashed a rocket from outside the area to complete the rout.
The numbers told the story of one-way traffic with 25 shots and 12 on target for Langsning, while Mumbay managed just five attempts. Playing in a 4-3-3, the home side led by Ahmed, Mukhim and Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem simply overwhelmed their opponents with pace, precision and purpose. With this five-star performance, Langsning FC did not just win their first Durand Cup game. They made a statement.
Tomorrow’s fixtures see Jamshedpur FC take on SC Delhi at 4:00 PM in Birsa Munda Football Stadium, followed by Mohun Bagan Super Giant against South United FC at 7:00 PM in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
