Shillong, Oct 17: Ryntih FC and Shillong Lajong FC won their respective matches in the OC Blue Shillong Premier League 2024 by 3-0 and 4-0 margins at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here on Thursday.
Ryntih first defeated Nongthymmai SC in the early kick-off before Lajong demolished Langsning FC in the second fixture.
Deibormame Tongper produced the first hat-trick of the season, scoring in the 34th, 39th and 72nd minutes, following on from team mate Kynsaibor Lhuid (21′), as Lajong outplayed Langsning in virtually all departments.
Kynsaibor made his intentions known early with a strong shot to the upright in just the third minute and he got on the scoresheet later after delivering a ball from the right flank, which could have been intended as a cross but which turned into a sensational opening goal.
Deibormame, SPL 2023’s top scorer, then produced two goals in the space of five minutes, the first shot low into the net before heading in a Kynsaibor corner.
With Lajong leading 3-0 at half time, they could have been expected to lay back in the second half but instead kept the pressure up. Langsning also started to find their feet a little and looked more threatening but they still have a lot of work to do to compete with the best teams this season.
Amidst see-saw action from one end of the pitch to the other, Deibormame got his hat-trick goal after the ball was cut back to him from deep on the right. He positioned himself nicely and struck the ball home powerfully.
Earlier, Ryntih netted three goals in the last half an hour to claim victory over Nongthymmai. Yami Longvah (62’), Dameki Khongstia (76’) and Wanshanlang Dkhar (86’) were the scorers.
Ryntih made the bulk of the attacking moves forward but found it hard to pierce the defence and challenge Nongthymmai goalkeeper Akash Thapa. Nongthymmai, on the other hand, preferred to sit back and wait for set-pieces when they could get them.
Yami headed in a cross for the opening goal and then a through ball for Dameki saw him slip it past Akash for the second.
Two minutes later Andyson Lapang tested Ryntih’s Frolicson Dkhar with a free-kick that the goalie tipped over the crossbar. That was the closest Nongthymmai came to scoring, though, and Ryntih substitute Wanshanlang put the game beyond doubt a few minutes from the final whistle with a tap-in after getting behind the defence.
There will be just one match on Friday, between last year’s runners-up Rangdajied United FC and defending champions Mawlai SC, which is to be played under floodlights from 5:30pm. This match follows the first semifinal of the Second Division 2024 between Meghalaya Police and Jongksha SC at 2:30pm.
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