Shillong, Oct 25: An incredible Second Division 2024 final witnessed a marathon penalty shootout that Meghalaya Police took 14-13 against Nongkrem SC at First Ground, Polo, here this evening.
The fascinating run of events began right from the morning when a blanket of thick fog descended on most parts of Shillong and refused to budge. The earlier First Division match between Mawkhar SC and Mawtawar SC had to be abandoned at half time (the remaining half will be played out on 28th October at 11:45AM) and the Second Division final was pushed back by the Shillong Sports Association to 5PM, with the game played under the floodlights.
Both sides had already secured promotion to next season’s First Division but that was well away from the players’ thoughts today as they fought it out for the winners’ trophy.
Passions ran high enough that there was even a tense moment of pushing and shoving between the two teams in the first half, which was only just brought under control before anything more serious happened.
TSR couldn’t stay after the first half but it seems to have been fascinating. Ninety minutes finished goalless, extra time was no use, which led to the mammoth tiebreaker. We only know that it ended 14-13, so it was at least 27 kicks long but we don’t know how many were missed. It was, at any rate, edge-of-the-seat stuff.
At the prize distribution ceremony afterwards the Player of the Match award was bestowed on MLP goalkeeper Rikseng Sangma. The Top Scorer award went to Nongkrem’s Wilbert Marbaniang. He scored six goals, including a hat-trick against Marbisu SC during the group stage.
MLP received Rs 1 lakh in prize money and a trophy, which was presented by Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling. Nongkrem received Rs 50,000 as runners-up.
Tomorrow’s fixtures:
First Division – Mylliem SC vs Umphyrnai SC, 2:30PM, First Ground
First Division – Lawsohtun SC vs Nongkseh SC, 5:30PM, First Ground
(TSR photo. Meghalaya Police in grey/black, Nongkrem in blue)