IFL 2025-26: Shillong Lajong beats Rajasthan United to stay alive in title race

Shillong Lajong FC kept themselves in the title race with a 4-2 win over Rajasthan United FC in the Star Cement Indian Football League 2025-26 Championship Phase match at the SSA Stadium in Shillong on Friday.

Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli, Everbrightson Sana, Phrangki Buam and Rudra Ved scored for Shillong while Alan Thapa and Gerard Artigas found the net for Rajasthan.

The win left Shillong second in the standings with 25 points from 13 matches, three behind leaders Diamond Harbor FC, who have a game in hand. Rajasthan remained fourth with 17 points.

Needing a win to stay in the title race, Shillong started with urgency and tried to stretch Rajasthan’s flanks. Figo Syndai delivered a pair of dangerous early crosses, while Damaitphang Lyngdoh registered the hosts’ first effort in the third minute, firing narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Shillong maintained a high pressure in the opening stages, with Syndai and Buam repeatedly testing Rajasthan’s defensive shape. Kenstar Kharshong almost opened the scoring in the 15th minute when his long-range strike hit the side netting, before Buam rattled the woodwork two minutes later with a fierce low effort from Sana’s return.

Despite Shillong’s dominance, Rajasthan took the lead against the run of play through Thapa in the 20th minute. A loose touch at the back allowed the midfielder to pounce on possession before unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box that beat Ranit Sarkar at his near post.

Shillong continued to push forward and were rewarded in the 39th minute. Syndai drove to the right and delivered a dangerous low cross, with Kharbuli applying the finishing touch from close range in a crowded penalty area.

The hosts completed the turnaround in first-half stoppage time from a set-piece. James Kithan failed to clear from a corner, allowing Kharshong to recycle possession and find Sana at the near post. The attacker shot in from close range and made it 2-1 at halftime.

Rajasthan started the second half with more control and almost equalized early on when Artigas burst down the right and sent a low cross across goal, but Thapa failed to connect at the near post.

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The visitor’s improved spell eventually resulted in the equalizer in the 69th minute. Artigas spotted a gap in the Shillong defence, burst into the penalty area and lifted the ball over the advancing Sarkar to make it 2-2.

Shillong, who had struggled to create clear openings for much of the second half, regained the lead in the 74th minute after Kharshong was brought down in the penalty area by Abdul Samed Ango. Buam stepped up and fired the penalty into the top left corner.

The hosts added a fourth five minutes later from a short corner routine. Kharbuli tapped the ball towards Rudra at the far post and the substitute finished from close range.

Rajasthan almost reduced the deficit in the 84th minute when Artigas unleashed a powerful low attack into the box, but Saveme Tariang produced an excellent goal-line clearance to maintain Shillong’s two-goal cushion.

The visitor pushed through in the closing stages, but Shillong managed to get through the final minutes to seal an important win in the title race.

Published on May 15, 2026