Shillong, May 13: Defending champions Mawlai SC equalised late in the day to take a point in a rousing 1-1 draw against Nongkseh SSCC in the first match of the 5th Meghalaya State League’s Super 8 stage.
Also in Group A, the evening fixture saw two former champions go up against each other, with Shillong Lajong FC edging Rangdajied United FC 1-0. Banlamkupar Rynjah (73′) scored the only goal of the game.
Earlier, Hardy Cliff Nongbri bundled home a cross in the 39th minute to put Nongkseh ahead in the game but Verjelous Shylla (90’+3) pulled off a stunning equaliser in second half stoppage time to share spoils.
A tremendous crowd filled the stands at the SSA Stadium and both sides were well-supported. Mawlai were able to keep pace with the rapid Nongkseh players and resist fairly well but they were unable to hit the mark without an out-and-out striker.
Six minutes of stoppage time were added on at the end of the second half and Nongkseh may have been a little too complacent, given Verjelous plenty of space to take his curling left-footer that beat the outstretched arm of Nongkseh goalkeeper Guidle Syiemlieh. It was Verjelous’s first goal of the tournament and a fine way to announce himself on the big stage having previously played for lower division sides in the Shillong leagues.
The closest Lajong came in the first half was with a header from a corner kick by Deibormame Tongper which was cleared off the line by a defender in the nick of time. RUFC, for their part, did not look like the side that struggled to reach the Top 8 stage but Lajong were strong enough defensively to deny them access to goal.
Rangdajied had a prime opportunity to score midway through the second half with three or four attempts in a single move but some desperate defending by Lajong managed to save the day.
At the other end, SLFC finally got the breakthrough when a Banlamkupar shot took a big deflection off a defender, which left Rangdajied goalie Meshan Banjop Sumer wrongfooted.
Group B matches of the Super 8 will begin here tomorrow, starting with Nangkiew Irat SC versus Rymbai Shkenshynriah SC at 11AM and followed by Langsning FC against Maram FC at 3PM. Both matches will take place at the MFA Ground.
(Meghalaya Football Association photo. Nongkseh in black, Mawlai in blue)