Shillong, Nov 12: The age-old rivalry between Rangdajied United and Shillong Lajong will once again take centre stage as the two local football giants lock horns in the final of the inaugural SSA Super Cup 2025 on Thursday at the SSA Stadium, First Ground, Polo. The match will kick off at 5 PM.
Honourable Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, and Honourable Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Wailadmiki Shylla, have consented to be present as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively for the highly anticipated clash.
The two clubs have crossed paths in several competitions over the years — from youth tournaments to the Shillong Premier League (SPL), Meghalaya State League (MSL), Durand Cup and even the I-League. Their last meeting in the national circuit was during the 2013–14 I-League season — a distant memory for today’s players, who were still schoolboys at the time.
Since then, the Lajong–Rangdajied rivalry has continued to be one of the most thrilling fixtures in Meghalaya football. Lajong have held the upper hand in recent years, winning both meetings in SPL 2024, as well as encounters in the MSL and Durand Cup. Their winning run, however, was finally halted this season in SPL 2025 when the two sides played out a goalless draw on August 9.
The newly introduced SSA Super Cup, organised by the Shillong Sports Association, has brought a fresh wave of excitement for fans. The top six teams from SPL 2025 competed in this knockout tournament, with SPL champions Langsning and runners-up Shillong Lajong securing direct berths in the semifinals, while Rangdajied and Mawlai had to battle through the playoffs to reach the last four.
Rangdajied United, who finished fifth in the SPL this season, have been the surprise package of the tournament. They stunned Langsning 2–0 in the first semifinal, thanks to a brace from Stephanson Pale. Lajong, meanwhile, edged past Mawlai 1–0 courtesy of an own goal.
Despite a shaky start to their SPL campaign — where they even found themselves in the relegation zone during the early rounds — Rangdajied’s young squad has shown impressive improvement. They finished the league strongly with a four-match unbeaten run, carried that momentum into the Super Cup, and have since defeated Nangkiew Irat 3–0 in the playoffs before toppling the SPL champions.
Lajong, on the other hand, appeared rusty against Mawlai. While their goalkeeper Wanteilang Malngiang has been rock-solid, keeping six clean sheets in seven matches across the SPL and Super Cup, the team’s forward line has struggled for creativity. Their lack of goals also cost them the SPL title, after a goalless draw with Nangkiew Irat handed Langsning the championship.
With Rangdajied on an upward curve, they appear the stronger side on paper. Yet, history shows that the Blues have often faltered against Lajong on the big stage. To lift the trophy, Rangdajied’s youngsters will need to overcome that psychological barrier and bring their newfound form to bear against an equally young and determined Lajong side hungry for silverware.
