Lalchungnunga Explained

Lal Chungnunga
Birth Date:25 December 2000
Birth Place:Aizawl, Mizoram, India
Currentclub:East Bengal
Clubnumber:5
Position:Centre-back, Right-back
Youthyears1:2019
Youthclubs1:Aizawl
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Aizawl
Caps1:4
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:Sreenidi Deccan
Caps2:17
Goals2:1
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:East Bengal (loan)
Caps3:19
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:East Bengal
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2023–
Nationalteam1:India U23
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2023–
Nationalteam2:India
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:21:33, 6 March 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:15:12, 22 November 2023 (UTC)

Lalchungnunga (born 25 December 2000) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club East Bengal and the India national team.

Club career

Aizawl

Lalchungnunga joined Aizawl on 1 July 2019 from their U18 club. He made his first appearance on 30 January 2021, against NEROCA.[1] He played four matches for the club in 2020–21.[2]

Sreenidi Deccan

In August 2021, Sreenidi Deccan roped in Lalchungnunga, on a two-year deal with an option to extend by another year.[3] On 27 December 2021, he made his debut for the club against NEROCA, in a 3–2 loss.[4] [5]

East Bengal

In August 2022, Indian Super League club East Bengal announced the signing of Lalchungnunga, on loan from I-League club Sreenidi Deccan.[6] On 22 August, he made his debut against Indian Navy in the Durand Cup, which ended in a 0–0 stalemate.[7] [8] Lalchungnunga made his league debut for East Bengal on 7 October against Kerala Blasters in a 1 - 3 defeat.[9] On 25 December 2022, East Bengal announced that Lalchungnunga has signed permanently for the club, effective from 1 June 2023, until 2026.[10]

In the 2023 - 24 season, Lalchungnunga led the East Bengal defence to the Durand Cup final where they finished runners-up, and was part of the 2024 Indian Super Cup winning team as he came on as a substitute in the final against Odisha as East Bengal became champions at the Kalinga Stadium.[11]

International career

Lalchungnunga was selected in the India U23 squad for the 2022 Asian Games and played three matches as India got knocked out in the Round of 16 against Saudi Arabia.

On 21 November 2023, Lalchungnunga made his senior international debut when he came on as a substitution for Sandesh Jhingan in the 91st minute against Qatar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupAFCTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aizawl2019–20I-League000000
2020–21400040
Aizawl total40000040
Sreenidi Deccan2021–22I-League17100171
East Bengal (loan)2022–23Indian Super League19070260
East Bengal2023–2417070240
2024–2500000000
East Bengal total36014000500
Career total55114000691

International

Honours

East Bengal

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NEROCA FC vs. Aizawl FC – Football Match Summary – January 30, 2021 . ESPN . 2021-01-30 . 2021-07-06 . 6 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906053739/https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/590474 . live .
  2. Web site: Lalchungnunga Stats, News, Bio . ESPN . 2021-07-06 . 2021-07-06 . 8 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210908192833/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/299743/lalchungnunga . live .
  3. Web site: I-League entrants Sreenidi Deccan FC rope in defender Lalchungnunga. khelnow.com. Khel Now News. 27 June 2021. 28 March 2022. 1 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220901224912/https://khelnow.com/football/i-league-2021-22-sreenidhi-deccan-sign-lalchungnunga. Harigovind. Thoyakkat.
  4. Web site: I-League: Sergio Mendi hat-trick leads NEROCA 3–2 win over Sreenidi Deccan. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. 27 December 2021. PTI. 28 March 2022. 6 September 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230906053841/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/i-league-sergio-mendi-hat-trick-leads-neroca-to-3-2-win-over-sreenidi-deccan/articleshow/88524313.cms. Kolkata.
  5. Web site: NEROCA 3-2 Sreenidi Deccan. Soccerway. 27 December 2021. 28 March 2022. 28 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220328162743/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/12/27/india/i-league/neroca/sreenidi-deccan/3706322/. live.
  6. News: East Bengal add three new Indians to the ranks. khelnow.com. 11 August 2022. 14 August 2022. 11 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220811193000/https://khelnow.com/football/isl-2022-23-east-bengal-sign-kamaljit-singh-sumeet-passi-lalchungnunga. live.
  7. Web site: East Bengal held by Indian Navy in Durand Cup 2022. khelnow.com. 22 August 2022. 22 August 2022. 22 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220822165623/https://khelnow.com/football/durand-cup-2022-east-bengal-vs-indian-navy-match-report. live.
  8. Web site: East Bengal 0 – 0 Indian Navy. the-aiff.com. 22 August 2022. 22 August 2022. 22 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220822124341/https://www.the-aiff.com/match-center/cms/11984. live.
  9. Web site: ISL Media Team. 7 October 2022. Second Half Goalfest Sees Blasters Secure Win Against East Bengal. Indian Super League. 7 October 2022. 9 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221009135525/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/second-half-goalfest-sees-blasters-secure-win-against-east-bengal. live.
  10. Web site: Sattyik. Sarkar. 25 December 2022. East Bengal sign defender Lalchungnunga on a long-term deal. Khel Now. 25 December 2022. 25 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221225120311/https://khelnow.com/football/2022-12-indian-football-isl-2022-23-east-bengal-sign-defender-lalchungnunga-permanent-deal-long-term. live.
  11. Web site: 28 January 2024. 12 years of pall of gloom lifted: East Bengal win a spine-chiller to take home Kalinga Super Cup. I-League. 29 January 2024.