Shillong, Sep 22: Indomitable Mylliem Lum left Mawryngkneng behind in a 5-1 triumph in the first semifinal of the Shillong Sports Association’s Second Division 2025 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here today.
The win also means that Mylliem Lum, who have now won all six games they’ve played this year, will be promoted to next season’s First Division.
Mylliem Lum hit Mawryngkneng fast, with two goals in the opening minutes thanks to Arbun Warjri (4′) and Eliastar Nongsiej (6′). That made it look like the match was a foregone conclusion but Mawryngkneng dug in and tried to fight their way back. They had a couple of solid chances in the remaining part of the first half, with Iohbor Mukhim missing a header in the 22nd minute, while Wanbha War, after doing the hard work of engaging two opponents at close quarters, had his shot collected by the Mylliem Lum goalkeeper Banianeh Kharkrang.
Mawryngkneng did finally pull a goal back in the 71st minute through Ialam Pyngrope and that gave the club’s fans hope of a comeback.
Mylliem Lum, though, didn’t let that hope last with a further three goals coming in a little more than 10 minutes. Fairly Nongkhlaw (pictured in celebration) scored via a flying header to meet a cross in the 76th minute and Eliastar (84′) and Shaitborlang Kharkrang (87′) made sure that the result was well beyond any doubt.
Plenty of spectators came to support both sides but there were a few whose tempers got the better of them. TSR saw at least one projectile being hurled into the Mylliem Lum stands and after the game police spirited away an individual – whether to protect him or to punish him we’re not sure.
Tomorrow Mawpat and Laitkyrhong will face off in the second semifinal. Mawpat were second in Group A and had beaten Smit on penalties in the quarterfinals. Laitkyrhong, on the other hand, were Group B toppers and defeated Tynring in the quarters.
(TSR photo)
