Shillong, Dec 28: Shillong College got their campaign off to a flying start in the College Boys category of the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports 2019-20 National Football Finals in Navi Mumbai today by smashing DAV PG College of Dehradun 11-1.
Incredibly this was a come-from-behind victory as it was DAV who took the lead in under 10 minutes.
However, following that was a goal rush for Shillong College, with player-of-the-match Robert Khongjoh (34′, 53′, 81′, 90′), Samuel Lyngdoh Kynshi (18′, 63′, 66′) and Phrangki Buam (21′, 69′, 78′) all scoring hat-tricks.
A free-kick by Kynshi saw Shillong College equalise and Buam gave the Shillong side the lead three minutes later after tapping in a Khongjoh cross.
Khongjoh then bagged the first of his goals by neatly skipping past the weak defence to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper before chipping over him.
Shillong College went into the half time break leading 4-1 after DAV conceded an own goal in the 39th minute off a Kynshi corner kick.
Seven goals were to follow in the second half, with Khongjoh scoring off a slightly difficult angle in the 53rd minute after Buam had pushed the ball in his direction.
Khongjoh then assisted Kynshi 10 minutes later with the latter taking a couple of touches before curling the ball into the back of the net. Kynshi completed his hat-trick three minutes later by firing in a left-footer after receiving a pass from Dameki Khongstia.
Then it was the turn of Buam to get his treble. He first chased down a good through ball by Pynbhalang Suting and went around the advancing goalkeeper to shoot. His hat-trick goal came after Rapborlang Marwein burst through the defence and crossed to his left once the keeper had committed forward, leaving Buam to simply tap the ball into the net.
Khongjoh then delivered another two goals to round out a perfect day for the Shillong team who went out in the semifinals last season.
(TSR file photo of Robert Khongjoh)