Shillong, Aug 21: Shillong witnessed a moment of pure magic as local boy Redeem Tlang struck a thunderous long-range goal to fire the Highlanders into their second consecutive Durand Cup final.
The decisive moment came when Redeem found space outside the box and unleashed a bullet from his left foot. The ball dipped and swerved beyond the Lajong goalkeeper, sending the Highlanders’ fans into raptures and silencing the home crowd, if only for a second.
“It was just an instinct, I guess… I intercepted the pass, and as I was in the opponent half, I dribbled forward. When I saw that no one was closing me down, I took a risk to take a shot, and it went in,” Redeem recalled after the match.
It was not just the goal that drew applause, but what followed. Redeem, once a promising youngster in the colours of Shillong Lajong, raised his hand in respect after scoring against his former club. In that simple act, he bridged his past with his present, acknowledging where it all began, while carrying his current side into the final.
“It was already on my mind since our group stage match that if I score against them, I will not celebrate, and so it happened in the semifinals. I grew up playing for Shillong Lajong since my U-15 days, and I made my senior debut for them as well, so it was a mark of respect for my former club,” he explained.
For Redeem, a boy who grew up in Meghalaya, this was more than football. To deliver in front of his people, in his city, in a match of this magnitude, carried a weight of meaning that no statistic could capture.
For the home crowd, it was a bittersweet moment, pain at conceding the decisive goal, yet pride in seeing one of their shine on such a stage.
“It was a very special feeling… To score after a long time, and what made it more special was I scored in the semifinals in front of a packed stadium with my friends and family in the stands,” Redeem said, his voice carrying the weight of joy and nostalgia.
For Shillong Lajong, it was heartbreak, but also a reminder of the talent the club has nurtured over the years. Redeem once wore their colours with pride, and now, even as he struck against them, his gesture proved that roots always matter.
As the Highlanders celebrated booking a spot in the Durand Cup final, Redeem’s goal and his respect for Shillong stood out, a perfect blend of brilliance and belonging.
