Willis Plaza scored a hat-trick as Churchill Brothers thrashed Shillong Lajong 4-2 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Thursday.
The Trinidad and Tobago striker opened the scoring early in the 18th minute before Samuel Lalmuanpuia levelled the scores for Lajong in the 30th minute. Playing at home Churchill were creating ample opportunities and once again took the lead through Dawda Ceesay nine minutes later.
Samuel Kynshi once again brought Lajong level just three minutes into the second half but Plaza settled the game with a twin strike just minutes later to register Churchill’s first win of the competition after three consecutive draws.
Churchill jumped to third on the back of the big victory, now on six points after four games while Lajong continued with their struggle still lingering at the second-last position with just three points from a game more.
The home side started the match better and justifiably took the lead when Plaza smashed home a lovely Ceesay cross from the right. Lajong on the other resorted to delivering long balls and long-range efforts that hardly bore any fruits.
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After initially struggling to string together a series of passes, Lajong found themselves back on the game when Lalmuanpuia found Phrangki Buam with a through ball. But latter’s shot was kept out by full-back Jovel Martins from which Lalmuanpuia scored to make it 1-1.
Plaza though was unstoppable and this time assisted Ceesay to give Churchill the lead. The Gambian received a pass before blasting a shot into the top left corner just nine minutes after Lajong has equalised.
But unlike the first-half, Lajong began the second with high confidence and once again levelled terms just three minutes through Kynshi before Plaza added another two for the home side to complete his hat-trick and bring up a comfortable win for the home team.
His second goal came in the 51st minute from an Israil Gurung free kick, which the Trinidad Tobago striker headed into the net and then he added a third three minutes later with a solo effort.