Shillong, Aug 11:Â Nongkseh SSCC finished their Durand Cup 2026 campaign in style with a dominant 7-0 win over Mumbay FC in a Group E fixture, played here today at the JN Stadium .
Hardy Cliff Nongbri (11’P, 79′) and Dawancha Carlos Challam (76′, 81′) both struck twice, while Kitboklang Pale (41′), Chesterpaul Lyngdoh (56′) and Sheen S Sohktung (89′) were also on the scoresheet as the hosts produced their most complete performance of the campaign to sign off in emphatic fashion.
The result lifts Nongkseh to second in Group E with 4 points from three matches, level with Langsning FC on points but ahead on goals scored (9 to 7), as their goal difference is the same (+5 each). Shillong Lajong FC top the group with 6 points from two matches, with both Lajong and Langsning still to play their final group stage fixture in two days’ time. Mumbay FC, like Nongkseh, have completed all three of their matches and end their campaign at the bottom with 0 points and having conceded 17 goals and scoring none of their own.
Although currently second, Nongkseh are out of the running for a place in the quarterfinals. Only the six group winners plus the two best second-placed teams will progress to the Round of 8.
Nevertheless Nongkseh set out with intent from the opening whistle, working an early corner inside the first two minutes that saw Kitboklang go close from the edge of the box, and the home side continued to look the sharper of the two sides down the flanks, with Aenam Jyrwa and Chesterpaul regularly finding pockets of space. Mumbay, to their credit, matched that early tempo rather than retreating into caution, and for a spell the contest carried a positive, open quality that belied its standing in the group.
The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute when Chester was brought down inside the box by Mumbay goalkeeper Pratik Jadhav for a clear penalty. Hardy stepped up two minutes later and sent Jadhav the wrong way to open the scoring, a goal that visibly settled the hosts and prompted Mumbay to retreat into a more defensive posture.
A second goal followed in the 41st minute, born more of persistence than precision. Sustained Nongkseh pressure eventually told when Kynsailang Khongsit’s delivery from the right was only partially cleared, the loose ball reaching Dawanchwa outside the box; his shot took a deflection off Kitbok that wrong-footed Jadhav entirely and nestled in the corner.
Mumbay emerged for the second half with renewed purpose, pushing bodies forward in search of a way back into the contest, though Nongkseh’s defensive shape held firm against the increased pressure. Nongkseh would still go on to score, with Aenam recovering after being fouled inside the box to dribble past two challenges and set up Shano, whose blocked shot fell kindly for Chester to convert from close range in the 56th minute. Jadhav’s evening ended shortly afterwards, the Mumbay goalkeeper stretchered off with an injury sustained in the buildup to that third goal and replaced by Jebishan L.
Nongkseh continued to press for more, Kynsailang rattling the woodwork in the 65th minute before Nongbri’s follow-up was blocked and Sheen forcing a smart save from Jebishan three minutes later.
The floodgates opened thereafter. Dawanchwa scored a genuinely outstanding fourth in the 76th minute, dribbling past three defenders down the left before finishing coolly at the near post, and Hardy bagged his brace three minutes later with a simple tap-in after being teed up by Sheen. Dawanchwa added his second, and Nongkseh’s sixth, in the 82nd minute when a tame effort from outside the box squirmed underneath Jebishan and into the net, before Sheen rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute, capitalising on a defensive error to round off a rout that had, by then, long stopped being in doubt.
Group E’s remaining business now rests with Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC, both still to play their final fixture with a quarterfinal berth at stake. That match will take place on 13th August at 7PM at the same venue.
(Durand Cup photo)
