Shillong Lajong FC and Chanmari FC share points in 1-1 draw

Shillong, Nov 6: Shillong Lajong FC fought back from a first-half deficit to secure a 1-1 draw against Chanmari FC in their first home fixture of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2026–27 season at the SSA Stadium in Shillong on Friday, November 6. Substitute Abelson Jachi struck late in the second half to cancel out an early own goal by Shillong defender Joedson dos Santos, ensuring both sides shared the points in a hard-fought Northeast derby.
Coming off a win in their season opener, Shillong Lajong started on the front foot and won the match’s first corner in the fourth minute through neat combination play between Ephraim HC and Figo Syndai. Shillong continued to probe early, forcing Chanmari goalkeeper and captain Zothanmawia to punch away a seventh-minute free-kick from Kenstar Kharshong and clear another dangerous cross in the 15th minute. Chanmari’s defense, anchored by center-back Seila Toure and full-backs F C Lalhmunmawia and HK Lalhruaitluanga, proved resilient under early pressure.
Chanmari FC, playing their first match of the campaign, gradually found their rhythm and threatened in the 21st minute when forward Lalthanzuala broke down the right and struck the woodwork. Just three minutes later, the visitors seized the lead through a defensive mistake. R Ramdinthara lifted a ball over the top for Gabriel Ferriera Paz, and in an attempt to clear the threat, Joedson dos Santos inadvertently turned the ball into his own net to give Chanmari a 1-0 advantage in the 24th minute.
Shillong responded with relentless pressure before the break. Zothanmawia denied Damaitphang Lyngdoh in the 31st minute after a build-up with Jota, while Everbrightson Sana narrowly missed the target off a fine midfield pass from Lamlallian. In first-half stoppage time, Seila Toure preserved Chanmari’s lead with a critical goal-line intervention to deny Jota, keeping the visitors ahead at the interval.
The hosts intensified their attack after the restart, with substitute Abelson Jachi bringing fresh energy down the right flank. Chanmari had a chance to double their lead in the 63rd minute, but substitute Guite Vanlalpeka fired wide following a link-up with Aron Vanlalrinchhana. Shillong immediately countered, as Sana headed a Jachi cross wide before Joedson dos Santos nearly redeemed his earlier error in the 72nd minute by striking the near post.
Shillong’s sustained pressure ultimately paid off in the 78th minute. Kenstar Kharshong floated a cross in from the left, and following a mistimed clearance by Seila Toure, the ball fell to Jachi inside the penalty area. The substitute kept his composure to slot home the equalizer and make it 1-1. Both teams pushed for a late winner in a wide-open final stretch, but neither could break the deadlock, leaving Shillong Lajong unbeaten at home and Chanmari FC with a valuable point to start their campaign.