Shillong, July 27: Nongkseh FC made a dream start to their maiden Shillong Premier League (SPL) campaign, edging past local rivals Mylliem FC 1-0 in a fiercely contested Upper Shillong derby at the SSA Stadium on Sunday.
The match was decided by a first-half stoppage-time strike from Aibiangmame Nongneng, whose goal proved enough to hand Nongkseh all three points in their debut appearance in Meghalaya’s top-flight football league.
The encounter was an intense affair, with referee G. Marwein issuing several yellow cards before sending off one player from each side in the second half.
Mylliem adopted a cautious approach in the opening half, focusing on defensive discipline while looking to launch counter-attacks through Remark Kharmalki and new signing Kevizakie Ciesotsu. However, their attacking opportunities were few and far between as Nongkseh controlled much of the possession.
Just when it appeared that Mylliem would head into the break on level terms, a defensive lapse proved costly. While attempting to prevent the ball from going out for a corner, a Mylliem defender inadvertently cleared it into the path of a Nongkseh player. Although the initial shot struck the crossbar, the rebound fell kindly to Aibiangmame Nongneng, who calmly slotted home in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Mylliem attempted to increase the tempo after the restart but suffered a setback when Shaibor Nongrum was shown a second yellow card and sent off. The numerical disadvantage lasted only a few minutes, however, as Arlangky Nongsiej of Nongkseh was also dismissed after receiving his second booking.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Nongkseh continued to create the better chances. Mylliem goalkeeper Rihoklang Khongjoh produced fine saves to deny Hardy Cliff Nongbri and Sheen Sohktung, keeping his side in the contest.
Mylliem came close to an equaliser through Istarbor Marngar, but Nongkseh goalkeeper Guidle Syiemlieh made a comfortable save. At the other end, Aenam Jyrwa nearly doubled Nongkseh’s lead on the counterattack, only to see his chipped effort strike the woodwork.
The victory gives Nongkseh a winning start to life in the Shillong Premier League, while Mylliem will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
The SPL action continues on Monday, with Rangdajied United FC taking on Meghalaya Police FC at 6:30 pm. Rangdajied finished fifth in last season’s league, while Meghalaya Police earned promotion after finishing runners-up in the First Division. The match will also mark Meghalaya Police’s return to the Shillong Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2018.
