SHILLONG:
Langsning defeated Mawkhar 3-1 in the 28th match, and last fixture of the first leg, in the OC Blue Shillong Premier League 2021-22 at Third Ground, Polo, on Wednesday. Figo Syndai (24’), Shano Tariang (46’) and Kitboklang Pale (79’) scored for Langsning and Lyngketlut Myrchiang (47’) for Mawkhar.
Before the match, second-placed Langsning had accumulated 11 points while Mawkhar were at rock bottom of the standings with just 2, though they were coming into this match on the back of a morale-boosting draw with leaders Mawlai SC.
The ground was slippery and water-logged in patches, but conditions were not bad enough to stop play. However, the players had to negotiate the conditions well and Langsning did better with that.
Pale timed and placed a through ball perfectly for Syndai in the 24th minute but his first attempt was blocked by the outstretched boot of Mawkhar goalkeeper Widenstar Kharsati.
However, Syndai was presented with a second chance with the rebound and scored this time. Langsning went into the break leading 1-0 but the game really came alive immediately after the second half began, with Tariang scoring inside a minute after an assist by Pale. Tariang is now the third player on four goals for the season, tied with Rangdajied United FC’s Donboklang Lyngdoh and Ryntih SC’s Wilbert Marbaniang.
However, the two-goal cushion barely lasted 60 seconds as Mawkhar came back at Langsning with a goal of their own. This came about after a Langsning defender tried to clear a ball in the box but ended up passing it straight to Mychiang, who made no mistake in getting it past goalkeeper Surjay Kumar Pariyar.
Later on, Mawkhar almost found the equaliser via substitute Aibanraplang Dohling but Pariyar managed to get a hand to the ball, which then came off the upright and trickled back towards the goal line but the keeper managed to gather it up just in time. Langsning immediately countered and in the process bagged their third goal. This time Syndai was denied by Kharsati but Pale was on hand for the rebound and, noticing that the keeper was out of position, wasted no time in taking the shot.