Shillong, Jul 24: Laitkroh were almost out of the Shillong Sports Association’s U-20 Fourth Division 2025 until two goals late in the day dramatically rescued their situation as the last second round match ended 2-2 against Lumpyngngad at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here today.
A win or a draw in Pool 4 would have been enough for Laitkroh to progress, while Lumpyngngad needed to win. The latter result would have left all three teams – the other being Mawphlang – on 3 points each and goal difference would then come into the equation. Before today Laitkroh had a goal difference of +1, Mawphlang 0 and Lumpyngngad -1.
Lumpyngngad managed to turn this right around with two goals by Mebankhraw Marboh (21′) and Donlang Kharsyiemiong (60′). A 2-0 result would have put Lumpyngngad through to the quarters along with Mawphlang and knocked Laitkroh out.
However, in the 80th minute Iaikiew Myrthong reduced the deficit by scoring off a corner and his team mate Jefferey Nongrum (80’+3) bagged a second in stoppage time from a free-kick, which looked like it came off the head of a defender.
Laitkroh thus qualified for the last-eight along with Mawphlang from Pool 4. The quarterfinals will begin on 29th July.
