Shillong, Feb 22: Despite this being their fourth game in four days, a tough as nails Meghalaya team held Mizoram to a 3-3 draw in Pool B of the U-21 Dr T Ao Football Tournament in Guwahati today.
The see-saw match saw the lead change hands frequently before the match ended all square.
Meghalaya bagged the lead in the second minute when Shaibor Nongrum headed in a Figo Syndai corner, but Mizoram were able to equalise in the 45th minute.
Another corner early in the second half saw Meghalaya retake the lead, this time with Ronald Lyngdoh Nonglait tapping in around the 50th minute mark, but the lead barely lasted 10 minutes before Mizoram made it 2-2 on the hour.
Mizoram then stared to press more and took the lead via a free-kick with five minutes left on the clock.
Unwilling, though, to let their unbeaten streak end, Meghalaya regrouped and Syndai attacked through the flank, beat the defence and delivered a gorgeous cross to Mediphrangki Pohleng who scored in the 90th minute.
“Playing consecutively for four days has taken a huge toll on the boys,” coach Bobby L Nongbet said. “Although it was a good match, we could have played better had we got some days rest.”
While this was Meghalaya’s fourth game in four days, it was only Mizoram’s second.
The Meghalaya boys will finally get a break and will take on Manipur on 25th February at 1:30PM.
