I couldn’t believe it myself at first- Naorem Mahesh Singh on the opening goal
The youngster scored a Robben-esque goal to open his account in I-league 2018-19.
A young and all-Indian dynamic Shillong Lajong kicked-off their Hero I-League 2018/19 campaign with a bang as they came up trumps in the Northeast Derby against Aizawl FC recording a 2-1 win in front a passionate crowd at home.
Coached by Alison Kharsyntiew, the all-Indian Lajong side produced an exciting display of attacking football, with both their goals coming off the boots of Naorem Mahesh Singh, who was adjudged the Hero of the Match in what was his Hero I-League debut as well.
The man from Manipur produced an early contender for the Goal of the Season for his first strike, curling in a spectacular effort from outside the box with his left foot. For the second, he showed great anticipation and commitment as he was on hand to convert a cross from the left flank by Rakesh Pradhan.
AIFF Media caught up with the 19-year-old, who spoke about his wonder goal and hailed the home fans for their support as well. EXCERPTS:
Mahesh scored a brace to earn the crucial three points against Aizawl
How did it feel immediately when your first goal went in?
It was an unbelievable moment and I couldn’t believe it myself at first. Two seconds later, my teammates just started piling up on me and hugged me and that was just the most amazing moment of my life.
What was the mood in the team like after winning your first match?
Getting the three points is absolutely fantastic. However, we know that we have got a lot more work to do. We are only getting started.
ALSO READ:
I-League clubs register record attendance figures
Cesar Ferrando dissapointed with his side's second half display, David James happy with comeback
Steve Coppell praises Bengaluru, Carles Cuadrat rues departure of John Johnson
How has it been training under coach Alison? What did he tell you before the match?
Alison is a great coach and he believes in the team. He told us to go out there give our best and enjoy the game, which we did.
What are your thoughts on the home crowd that came to the stadium yesterday?
Our fans are the best! They cheered for us throughout the match and that gave us more confidence to play to the best of our abilities.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]Which players - Indian & foreign - do you admire the most?
For me, Jackichand Singh is a real role model. And in the global game, my favourite player is Lionel Messi.
Latest News
- Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- New York City vs Colorado Rapids Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- Roma vs Juventus Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- Liverpool join rivals Manchester United in race for Japanese star Takefusa Kubo
- Liverpool vs Tottenham Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
Trending Articles
- Coach Habas helped us believe in ourselves, says Mohun Bagan forward Dimitri Petratos
- The vision of the academy is to identify young talented footballers, says U-19 RFYC asst. coach Saksham Kakkar
- Looking back at all the ISL finals
- Report: Jamie Maclaren has two more offers apart from Mohun Bagan
- Want to do something for Indian football, says Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav
Editor Picks
- Which players will miss ISL 2023-24 final?
- Mohun Bagan should also be worried about us, says Alberto Noguera before ISL final
- Packed crowd is extra motivation to do well, says Mumbai City FC coach Petr Kratky
- ISL 2023-24 Final: Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC: Live streaming, TV channel, kick-off time & where to watch
- ISL 2023-24 Final: Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC: Preview, Predicted lineup, injury news, H2H, telecast details