Indian Football League 2025-26: Shillong Lajong registers a comfortable win against Namdhari

Shillong Lajong FC defeated Namdhari FC 2-0 in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Ludhiana on Friday.

With this win, Shillong Lajong have confirmed their place in the top half of the table with 14 points from eight matches, while Namdhari FC remain in eighth place with seven points from eight matches.

After a scrappy start to the first half, Shillong Lajong settled into the match and started to show more promise in attack. Phrangki Buam, together with right-back Kitboklang Khyriem, was particularly lively down the right flank and kept the Namdhari defense on its toes. Everbrightson Sana’s glancing header was well saved before Buam had a couple of attempts on goal, both of which were well saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

At the other end, Namdhari relied on long balls and set pieces to create openings, utilizing his physicality, but the Lajong defense stood firm to thwart any meaningful attempt, failing to test the goalkeeper with a clear chance in the first half. Both teams’ defense was solid and they went into halftime goalless.

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The visitor made a brilliant start to the second half, taking the lead just eight minutes after the restart with a perfectly executed counter-attack from a Namdhari set piece. Phrangki Buam was released into space and switched play superbly to the left for Ephraim Lalremtluanga, who fired the ball into the path of Everbrightson Sana. The striker fired a stunning right-footed volley past the goalkeeper for the first time and found the back of the net.

Everbrightson turned supplier this time as Shillong Lajong doubled the lead four minutes later. The forward sent a cross into the penalty area and found Ephraim, who timed his run perfectly between two defenders and guided a header into the net for his side’s second goal of the match.

The home side almost pulled one back immediately after the restart, but Manvir Singh failed to direct his effort on target after being picked out by a cross from the right. At the other end, Buam had a few chances to add a third for Shillong Lajong, but instead of going for goal himself, he tried to pick out teammates in the box, with the Namdhari defense managing to clear the danger.

Shillong controlled the latter stages of the match and retained possession in key areas of the pitch. Namdhari tried to trouble the defense with long balls and their physical presence but failed to create anything meaningful in the final third.

Published on April 10, 2026