Shillong, Aug. 18 -- The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was alive with energy on Friday evening. In the middle of that roar, it was a moment of instinct, almost accidental, that changed everything for Shillong Lajong. Damait Lyngdoh swung his foot, looking to deliver a cross, but instead, the ball found its way past the goalkeeper and into the net.

What could have been just another delivery into the box turned into the spark that ignited Lajong's comeback and eventual victory. For the midfielder, it was a surreal experience to score his side's opening and comeback goal.

"Honestly, I went for a cross but somehow it ended up going in," Lyngdoh said afterwards as quoted by a Durand Cup press release, his smile still betraying disbelief. "I was j...