Shillong, August 11 : Nongkseh SS&CC signed off their 135th IndianOil Durand Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a dominant 7-0 victory over Mumbay FC in their final Group E fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Tuesday.
Hardy Cliff Nongbri and Dawancha Carlos Challam scored twice each, while Kitboklang Pale, Chesterpoul Lyngdoh and Sheen Stevenson also found the net as the hosts produced their strongest performance of the tournament.
The win lifted Nongkseh to second place in Group E with four points from three matches, level with Langsning FC but ahead on goal difference. Shillong Lajong FC remained top of the group with six points from two matches, with both Lajong and Langsning still to play their final group fixtures.
Nongkseh took the lead in the 11th minute after Chesterpoul Lyngdoh was brought down inside the penalty area by Mumbay goalkeeper Pratik Jadhav. Nongbri stepped up and converted from the spot to put the home side ahead.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when Dawancha Carlos Challam’s effort from outside the box took a deflection off Kitboklang Pale and wrong-footed the goalkeeper before finding the net.
Nongkseh continued to dominate after the break, with Lyngdoh making it 3-0 in the 56th minute after converting from close range following sustained pressure inside the Mumbay penalty area.
The floodgates opened in the closing stages. Challam struck a superb fourth in the 76th minute after dribbling past three defenders before finishing at the near post. Nongbri completed his brace three minutes later with a simple tap-in following a pass from Stevenson.
Challam then scored his second to make it 6-0 before Stevenson completed the rout in the 89th minute by capitalising on a defensive error.
Despite the resounding victory, Nongkseh concluded their campaign without securing a place in the knockout stages. Mumbay FC, meanwhile, finished their group-stage campaign without a point.
The remaining Group E fixtures involving Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC will determine the final qualification picture for the quarterfinals.
