Shillong, Aug 16: After 74 matches over the course of two months, the Shillong Sports Association’s U-20 Fourth Division 2025 final will be held on Saturday at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here. Kick-off will be at 12 noon.
Mawlynrei have played seven matches on their way to the final, starting out in the smallest group of them all, Group F. There they won two games – 5-2 against Lawei of Smit and 4-0 against Riatsamthiah – before drawing 1-1 with Lumpyngngad.
In the second round they defeated Group B toppers Them Rangshken 2-1 before beating Group C runners-up Lapalang 1-0 in Pool 2. In the knockout rounds, Mawlynrei romped over Golflink 3-0 in the quarterfinals before again meeting Lapalang in the semis where they were 1-0 winners again.
Mawlynrei have thus not conceded a goal in their last three games. Ferdinand Pyngrope is their top scorer with five goals, though he has had injury concerns that make his full participation doubtful. Elvinson Kharsohnoh is just behind him on four goals.
Mawkasiang, meanwhile, have won all eight games they’ve faced this season. They had a perfect record in Group C, winning four times versus Summit Football Academy (3-0), Lapalang (2-1), Nongthymmai Raidnongkynrih (3-1) and Diliengiem (3-0). They had to fight their way back after conceding first against Nongthymmai Raidnongkynrih.
In Pool 3 of the second round Mawkasiang were also behind against Group B runners-up Lummawbah before prevailing 2-1. They then defeated Group E runners-up Mawnianglah 3-1 to progress to the knockout rounds.
They faced their toughest challenge yet in the quarterfinals where they drew 0-0 with Mawphlang at the end of 80 minutes (the duration of Fourth Division matches) but held their nerve and won the tiebreaker 6-5. They then faced Lummawbah again in the semifinals and won 1-0.
Two of Mawkasiang’s players have scored six goals each – Kyrmen Lyngdoh and Hame-dao Nongtdu.
Both finalists and the two losing semifinalists have already secured promotion to next season’s Third Division but the ultimate prize is what Mawlynrei and Mawkasiang will be going for on Saturday.
The match has been brought forward to 12 noon because of the later Durand Cup match at the nearby JN Stadium. If the scores are level then extra time will first be employed before a tiebreaker.
(TSR file photos)