IFL 2025-26: Majcen’s double helps Diamond Harbor past Shillong Lajong 2-1

Luka Majcen’s double goal saw Diamond Harbor FC edge past Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 in Match 15 of the Indian Football League at the SSA Stadium in Shillong on Saturday.

With the win, Diamond Harbor moved to second place in the table with six points, behind Sreenidi Deccan on goal difference, while Shillong Lajong dropped to fifth place with four points from three matches.

Shillong Lajong FC head coach Birendra Thapa stayed true to his starting XI and named the same line-up for the second match in a row, while Kibu Vicuña made the lone substitution to his side, bringing in Bryce Miranda in place of Halicharan Narzary on the left wing.

Diamond Harbor opened the scoring in the second minute, before Shillong Lajong’s defense had time to settle down. Luka Majcen received the ball in the penalty area and laid it off for Antonio Moyano, whose effort forced a save from goalkeeper Siwel Rymbai. However, the rebound fell in Majcen’s favor and the Slovenian striker eased the ball into the back of the net to give his side the lead.

The striker doubled the lead with another clinical finish at the near post. Jobby Justin was released down the right wing by Hugo Díaz after Shillong Lajong was dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area. The skipper delivered a low cross across the six-yard box, which Majcen neatly finished past the diving goalkeeper.

The Reds were brave enough to stick to their plan and play their style of football with high intensity. They continued to press high and used their fullbacks and wingers to good effect to trouble the Diamond Harbor defense.

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The home side almost halved the deficit before a combination of goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh’s fingertips and the crossbar denied Everbrightson Sana’s header. Left back Saveme Tariang scored a cross into the penalty area, after which Sana rose high to fire a header towards goal, but it was denied.

Nine minutes after the restart, the home side finally halved the deficit with a sparkling counter-attack that started deep in their own half. Info lengkap: psf2. A long throw from the opponent was made up for by the defense, with the ball falling into the hands of Everbrightson Sana. The striker quickly released Gladdy Kharbuli, who had run into space early on, and the midfielder shrugged his shoulders before finishing expertly past Dheeraj Singh in goal.

Everbrightson Sana came close to scoring after the hour when he disputed a high ball with Dheeraj. The ball floated and was destined to find the empty net, but was cleared off the line by the retreating Melroy Assisi.

In the end, the West Bengal side maintained their one-goal lead and secured their second straight win of the season.

Published on March 14, 2026