nigel.simon@guardian.co.tt
T&T duo, Willis Plaza and Anthony Wolfe were both on target for their Indian I-League club, Churchill Brothers, but it was not enough to avoid a 2-3 loss to cellar-placed Shillong Lajong, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, Meghalaya, India, yesterday.
In a tense first-half, 18-year-old Indian striker Samuel Kynshi opened the scoring for Shillong Lajong in the 36th minute with his third goal of the season before he doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot.
Eight minutes into the second half, the 31-year-old Plaza, who has been overlooked for national duty in recent times sliced the deficit in half for Churchill Brothers off a feed from Nicholas Fernandes with his league-best 17th goal of the season in 16 matches.
Fernandes was also the provider for the first-half substitute, and former T&T World Cup player, Anthony Wolfe, who replaced an injured Chesterpoul Lyngdoh in the 23rd minute to level the match at 2-2 in the 71st, with his fourth league item.
But Shillong Lajong would snatch all three points seven minutes from the end of regulation-time when Naorem Mahesh Singh netted his third goal in 15 matches before Wolfe was cautioned in the 87th.
Despite the loss, Churchill Brothers remained joint second with Real Kashmir on 29 points, from 16 and 15 matches respectively, one behind Chennai City, which has played 14 matches.
Shillong Lajong, meanwhile is still bottom of the 11-club standings, despite a third win in 15 matches, with ten points, two less that Gokulam FC, the club of another T&T international, striker Marcus Joseph.
On Thursday last, Plaza continued his rich vein of form when he scored the equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Real Kashmir.
After a 0-0 first-half, Forhan Gannie put Real Kashmir ahead in the 55th minute, but that lead only lasted 14 minutes before the 31-year-old Plaza got his team on level terms with his seventh goal in four matches.
Wolfe also started up front alongside Gambian Dawda Ceesay, before he was replaced in the 78th minute.
Joseph, who has two goals in three matches for Goklulam will hope to add to his tally today (Wednesday) versus Real Kashmir.