Shillong, Sep 23: Nongkseh made sure they are still in the hunt for the title with a 2-0 win against Rangdajied United in the Shillong Premier League 2026 at the SSA Stadium here today.
Goals for Dawanchwa Challam (66’) and Aenam Jyrwa (85’) settled this match in favour of Nongkseh, in what was their second win in a row.
Victory took Nongkseh to fourth place, now with 10 points, which is three away from leaders Langsning. Rangdajied stay stuck in seventh position with 7 points.
Rangdajied have improved markedly since their poor start to the season and they held their own for a good hour before letting a goal slip past them.
A ball forward to Dawanchwa was carefully controlled by the Nongkseh player with his right boot before he thumped it past a Rangdajied player and the goalkeeper with his left in a swift motion.
The second goal was down to plenty of luck, with a cross from the right going past everyone in the Rangdajied box before it fell to Aenam on the far side, who had an easy put-away.
Earlier, in the first half, Chesterpaul Lyngdoh had a shot that was dramatically cleared off the line by a defender while Hardy Cliff Nongbri delivered a free-kick into the area but no one was there to meet it. These were Nongkseh’s best chances of the half but otherwise they were not at their best. For Rangdajied, they won several corners but wasted each of them.
RUFC created more chances after going behind. In the 79th minute Micky Marwein sent in a diagonal ball and Balamlynti Khongjee was open but his header went wide. Ten minutes later Franky Dkhar smashed a free-kick from just outside the box into the wall and Balamlynti’s rebound took a deflection for another corner.
Then, in stoppage time, Henryford Nongneng took a strong shot that Daraphun Talang in the Nongkseh goal had to cope with as it swung in the air; the keeper punched it away out of danger.
Rangdajied had won their previous two matches but those were against opposition (Laitkor and Nangkiew Irat) less capable than Nongkseh and RUFC were not able to find the mark today – this was their first game without scoring a goal.
Tomorrow third-placed Shillong Lajong will clash with relegation-threatened Laitkor at 3PM.
(Shillong Sports Association photo. Nongkseh’s Dawanchwa Challam (centre) celebrates after scoring)
