Jaipur: Rajasthan United Football Club (RUFC) suffered a 2-4 defeat against Shillong Lajong FC in the Indian Football League Championship Round at the packed SSA Stadium, Shillong, in a high-intensity encounter filled with energy, emotion, and a massive home crowd atmosphere.
The Desert Warriors started positively despite the pressure from the home supporters, with Alan Thapa opening the scoring in the 21st minute to give Rajasthan United FC an early advantage. Shillong Lajong FC responded strongly in front of their passionate fans and managed to take control of the contest.
In the second half, Gerard Artigas found the back of the net in the 61st minute, keeping Rajasthan United FC in the fight, but Shillong Lajong FC capitalised on key moments to secure the victory with four goals on the night.
The result is a heartbreaking setback for Rajasthan United FC as the team misses the opportunity to move into third position in the standings. However, the squad remains determined and focused with one important game still left in the season.
Assistant coach Vikas Rawat shared his thoughts after the match.
“It was a difficult game in a fantastic atmosphere with a huge crowd behind Shillong Lajong FC. We are naturally disappointed with the result because the players fought hard throughout the match. There are positives we can take from this performance, but now our full focus shifts to the final game of the season. We have to recover mentally and finish strongly.”
The RUFC chairman KK Tak also reflected on the result and thanked the supporters.
“We are disappointed because we wanted a better result for the team and our fans. But we still have one more important match ahead, and we are fully focused on that. Thank you to all our supporters who continue to stand with us throughout the season.”
Rajasthan United FC will now prepare for their final match of the season against Chanmari FC on May 19 at Kalyani Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 6.30 pm IST.
Suhas Nayse, Special correspondent, Sports, The Times of India, J...
Read MoreSuhas Nayse, Special correspondent, Sports, The Times of India, Jaipur edition.
He joined TOI Jaipur edition in February, 2023. He was also part of the TOI Nagpur edition from 2006 to 2020 as a sports reporter. He has been covering sports for more than two decades.
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