Apuia opens up on his stunning goal against Jamshedpur FC

Lalengmawia Ralte, widely known as Apuia, was the star of the show for Mohun Bagan Super Giant as he scored the match-winning goal for the club against Jamshedpur FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday in the second leg semifinal of the ongoing Indian Super League.

The Mariners lost the first leg by 2-1 while playing away but Jason Cummings equalized on the aggregate score as he found the back of the net in the 51st minute from a spot kick. Apuia then scored the match-winning goal in the 94th minute to help his team book their ISL final date against Bengaluru FC.

“There is no such strategy to score in the last minute. We’re trying even from the first minute, but somehow, we managed to score in the last minute. That’s a good part,” Apuia said.

“I think it’s because of the belief. Everyone is believing in each other; that’s how we do it. There is no such strategy to score in the last minute,” he added.

This was midfielder’s first goal of the season and it could not have come at a better time for the Kolkata-based club. Apuia said he had no idea how to celebrate the goal.

“Yeah, it was really blank. I didn’t even know how to celebrate.

“Because, as we have already said, I didn’t score for a long time. And today I scored and helped the team. And when I scored, I didn’t even know what to do.”

Apuia revealed they were confident at the half-time break when they were trailing by 2-1 on aggregate score.

“Yeah, we knew that they were going to make it difficult at the start. And the team talk was to believe in ourselves, because we knew that the goal would come if we believed in ourselves and played the same as we play. Not trying to do something different, and, you know, try to be selfish. And the main motivation was to believe in ourselves and know that the goal is going to come,” he opined.

The ISL final between MBSG and Bengaluru FC will be played on Saturday at the Salt Lake Stadium.