IFL 2025-26: Dempo frustrates Shillong Lajong in goalless Championship stage match

Shillong Lajong FC were held to a goalless draw by a determined Dempo SC in the Indian Football League Championship Phase match at the SSA Stadium in Shillong on Sunday.

The result left Shillong second in the table with 18 points, seven behind leaders Diamond Harbor FC, while Dempo remained sixth with 10 points.

Shillong named an unchanged starting XI from the last game, while Dempo made two changes, with Sebastián Gutiérrez Atehortua and Vieri Colaco replacing Ariston Costa and Richmond Kwasi Owusu.

Shillong imposed themselves from the start and immediately put pressure on Dempo from the kick-off. In the first minute, a long ball into the penalty area created an early opening as Phrangki Buam rose to meet it, but the defense recovered in time to clear.

The hosts kept a high tempo during the early exchanges, unsettling Dempo’s backline before the visitor slowed the pace and tried to play out from the back.

Both sides showed a clear tendency to build through the flanks, with Buam and Ephraim Lalremtluanga expanding play for Shillong, while Saiesh Bagkar and Kapil Hoble Gutiérrez and Marcus Leric Jr. wanted to supply Joseph centrally.

Shillong’s sharpness in possession, aided by strong home support, translated into early control. In the eighth minute, Lamlallian found space in the final third and shot on target, but Aubin Kouakou positioned himself well to block.

Dempo’s attempts to build from deep led to repeated turnovers under Shillong’s high pressure, while Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah tested Ashish Sibi with a slip attempt from distance that the goalkeeper handled safely.

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The clearest opening of the first half came in the 34th minute when Kouakou lost possession, allowing Sana to break through on goal. Jose Luis Moreno Pena recovered with a well-timed slide challenge to prevent the shot.

Shillong continued to threaten. In the 38th minute, Damaitphang Lyngdoh delivered a low cross across the six-yard box that evaded any finishing touch. Five minutes later, Buam’s shot from a tight angle was parried by Sibi before Lyngdoh hit the woodwork from distance.

Shillong resumed the front foot after the break but Dempo produced a moment of quality in the 58th minute when Gutierrez connected neatly with a first-time volley from a tight angle, forcing Ranit Sarkar into a sharp save.

The visitor came close again in the 67th minute from a set piece, but Sarkar responded well before Joseph fired over the bar from the rebound.

Shillong pushed hard for a breakthrough and came agonizingly close in stoppage time when substitute Abelson Jachi forced a leak from Sibi and Kenstar Kharshong lifted the rebound over the goalkeeper, only to see his effort hit the crossbar.

Shillong’s inability to convert dominance into goals proved decisive. Despite twenty shots, including five on target, they were unable to break through the disciplined Dempo defense.

Published on April 26, 2026