Shillong, Sep 22: Mawkhar SC fought from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Nangkiew Irat SC with a last minute strike in the 54th match of the OC Blue Shillong Premier League 2021-22 at Third Ground, Polo, here on Wednesday.
Lambor Nongsiej (5’) and Overkindness Lyngdoh Mawnai (29’) scored for Nangkiew Irat and super substitutes Aibiangmame Nongneng (62’) and Banehskhem Khongsdam (90’+3) for Mawkhar.
Coming into today’s fixture, Nangkiew Irat had 16 points and were targetting a win to take fourth place in the standings. Mawkhar, on the other hand, had 6 points and would not go anywhere even if they won. In the first leg, Nangkiew Irat emerged as 3-1 winners on 19 July.
In a match of two contrasting halves, Nangkiew Irat dominated the first session, with Damehun Syih providing a cross for Nongsiej to tap in, which proved to be Nangkiew’s fastest goal all season.
Team mates Khangmiki Pale and Bris Taro also had shots on target but these could not beat goalkeeper Widen Kharsati, though it looked like it was only a matter of time before Nangkiew Irat got another goal as Mawkhar’s defence was a little too easy to penetrate. That second goal came in the 29th minute when Lyngdoh Mawnai’s shot rebounded back before going into the net.
Mawkhar were far more attacking in the second half and Nangkiew Irat more on the back foot.
Nongneng, who had only just appeared on the pitch, scored Mawkhar’s first in the 62nd minute after taking a left-footed shot on the run that went low to the right of opposition keeper Guidle Syiemlieh.
There were a few more moments in the following half an hour or so where Mawkhar were close to scoring but it looked like Nangkiew Irat had done just about enough to hold on and retake fourth place in the standings.
The fourth official signalled three minutes of added time and in the last of those, Mawkhar pressed forwards. Two shots were blocked but Nangkiew could not clear their lines and Khongsdam’s attempt then ricocheted off the crossbar and came down across the line to give Mawkhar a point.
There are now three teams on 17 points each, with Nangkiew joining Ryntih SC and Shillong Lajong FC. Head-to-head does not separate the three, so, according to goal difference, Lajong (+1) stay in fourth place. Ryntih and Nangkiew both have the same goal difference (-5), which means that Ryntih are in front on goals scored (21 to 20).
Ryntih could still take fourth place away from Lajong as they will play their final match on 26 September against Rangdajied United FC. In the reverse fixture, Rangdajied had edged Ryntih 1-0 on 25 June.
