Shillong, May 9: Practically every Shillong-based team in the 5th Meghalaya State League made it easily past the group stage and into the pre-quarterfinals. Every team, that is, except Rangdajied United FC.
The 2023 champions qualified as the second team in Group H but only just.
At first glance the group table looks upside down. How is Seng Samla Umdang Pyllun at the top even though they have the worst goal difference?
Well, that’s all because the MSL uses head-to-head results to separate teams when points are tied. This is in keeping with All India Football Federation norms for the past several years but still catches some people unawares.
Between the three teams tied on 8 points each, Umdang Pyllun had the best results. They won against Rangdajied and Mawten SC and drew with Mawten as well for a total of 7 points. Rangdajied beat the other two once each for 6 points while Mawten upset RUFC the other day but only managed 1 point from two meetings with Umdang Pyllun and thus only garnered 4 points.
In most (but not all) other countries, goal difference is used to separate teams first when points are tied. If this had been the case here Mawten would have been on top of the table – they have the same goal difference of +1 with Rangdajied but have scored more goals (9 to 7). Umdang Pyllun would’ve been third and out of the competition.
Spare a thought also for Mawlarshong SC. They have the best goal difference of the lot (+2) and lost only one match compared to two each for the others. But they drew four times, which cost them valuable points and they finished at the bottom of the table.
Being the top team in the group, Umdang Pyllun will play their pre-quarterfinal match in Mawkyrwat against Maram FC, the runners-up of Group G.
Rangdajied, on the other hand, will have to travel to a new venue (for them) – Williamnagar – where they will take take on the Group G winners Janepih YSCA. Umdang Pyllun and Janepih happen to know each other well as both play in the Mawshynrut Sports Association league.
So, why have Rangdajied struggled? It’s a bit difficult for us to say as we haven’t seen them in person this year. But the club have gone through deep personnel changes and were highly active in the local Shillong and inter-district transfers, with 21 players signed and 15 released. RUFC have also not had full squads available for their last few MSL matches as several players have had exams of one sort or another.
There is still plenty of football left in MSL 5. The pre-quarterfinals are a straight knockout round but after that comes another group stage, with the eight teams still standing divided into two sets of four for a double leg round robin ‘quarterfinal’ round.
Rangdajied will hope to be able to regroup for the Round of 8 where consistency will be key to reaching the semifinals. But first will come the thorny question of whether they have what it takes to defeat a Janepih side who have been unbeaten in seven matches (their last group game will be held today) and who have only conceded one goal throughout.
(Meghalaya Football Association photos. From top left to bottom right: SS Umdang Pyllun, Rangdajied United FC, Mawten SC)