Shillong, Jul 22: Laitlulong qualified for the quarterfinals of the Shillong Sports Association U-20 Fourth Division after their second round Pool 1 match against Laitumkhrah ended 1-1 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, today.
Meanwhile, in Pool 2, Mawlynrei claimed top spot by edging Lapalang 1-0.
After they were handed a technical 3-0 defeat following their use of ineligible players in the previous match against Golflink, Laitumkhrah needed to win by three goals against Laitlulong in order to make it to the quarterfinals.
However, Laitumkhrah were frustrated by their stoic opponents and even conceded first, with Bankerlang Khardewsaw scoring in the 74th minute of the 80-minute match. Laitumkhrah pulled level just four minutes later through Hamlet Thabah (78′) but they were unable to find any more goals at the game ended 1-1. Laitlulong (4 points) and Golflink (3) thus qualify for the quarters and Laitumkhrah (1) are knocked out.
Even before today, Lapalang and Mawlynrei had already been confirmed as having secured places in the quarterfinals from Pool 2 after they both defeated Them Rangshken. However, there was still the matter of deciding which of the two teams would go through as the winners of the pool. Lapalang had the advantage in terms of goal difference (leading +2 to +1 before today) and only needed a draw but Mawlynrei snuck in at the last moment to take the win with a goal by Andrew Marboh (80’+2).
Mawlynrei therefore finished with 6 points, to Lapalang’s 3 and Them Rangshken’s 0.
Tomorrow’s fixture:
Pool 3 – Lummawbah vs Mawnianglah, 4PM
