Shillong, Sept 30: Langsning survived a late scare to edge Nongrim Hills 3-2 in a dramatic Shillong Premier League 2025 fixture at the SSA Stadium, First Ground, Polo, here on Tuesday.
Goals from Richie Kharbani (32’), Apborlang Kurbah (34’) and Istarbor Marngar (90’+6) secured the three points for Langsning. Nongrim Hills replied through Sanborlang Sohtun (79’) and an own goal (81’), but their wait for a first victory of the season continued.
The result lifted Langsning into third place on the standings with 11 points, while Nongrim Hills remained rooted to the bottom with just one point from six matches.
The game began with both sides earning set-piece opportunities. Nongrim Hills came close early on, but Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh was alert to the danger. The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute when Richie headed in a free-kick, and Apborlang doubled the advantage two minutes later from a corner.
After the break, Nongrim Hills came out stronger. Bankitboklang Nongrum rattled the crossbar in the 47th minute before Sanborlang finally pulled one back with a header from a free-kick. Two minutes later, a misdirected header by Langsning’s Damonlang Pathaw resulted in an own goal, bringing the sides level.
Nongrim Hills pushed for a winner, with Glennys Lynrah grazing the crossbar in the 87th minute. However, their momentum was cut short when Bankitboklang was stretchered off with an injury after all substitutions had been used, leaving them with 10 men.
Langsning made the most of the numerical advantage, with Istarbor turning in the decisive goal from a corner deep into stoppage time.
Nongrim Hills, despite an impressive second-half performance, were left to rue missed chances and misfortune. With only three matches remaining—two against top contenders Mawlai and Shillong Lajong—the threat of relegation looms large.
Defending champions Lajong will face Mawlai on Wednesday at 4:30 PM in what promises to be a high-voltage encounter.
