Shillong, Feb 28: After yesterday’s semifinal, which left a bitter taste in the mouth and three players out with injury, the Meghalaya football team bounced back to claim third place in the Dr T Ao Memorial Football Tournament with a 5-1 victory over Sikkim in Guwahati today.
Man-of-the-match Samuel Kynshi scored a hat-trick in Meghalaya’s convincing victory, while Phrangki Buam and Robert Khongjoh picked up one apiece in the playoff.
Exhibiting top-level football, Meghalaya dominated possession and scored the first goal in the 10th minute through Kynshi off an assist by Khongjoh. Buam then doubled the lead in the 25th minute before Kynshi scored again in the 40th minute for Meghalaya to lead 3-0 at half time.
Khongjoh and Kynshi scored in the second half to take the game away from Sikkim completely, even though the latter managed to bag a consolation goal in the 82nd minute.
This was Meghalaya’s second victory over Sikkim in this edition of the tournament, after winning 1-0 in the group stage.
(Photo contributed)
