Shillong, October 10: Langsning had a lot of work to do but held off Laitkor for a 2-1 win in the Shillong Premier League 2025 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here this evening.
Nelson Rymbai (14’) and Chusrang Sangma (18’) scored for Langsning in under 20 minutes of the start but Laitkor put on a strong show in the second half but could only manage one goal, courtesy Fridison Wanniang (55’).
The result moved Langsning into the lead in the race for the SPL 2025 title; they now have 17 points, 2 more than Shillong Lajong or Mawlai, but these two teams each have a game in hand. Laitkor, meanwhile, stay in seventh, tied with Mylliem on 8 points but with head-to-head advantage.
The rain waited until the match had begun before pouring down but Langsning mastered the conditions perfectly, at least in the early part of the game.
After missing several chances in the last match, Nelson scored today off practically his first opportunity. Hukumskhem Marbaniang, the Laitkor goalkeeper, managed to get a palm to the strong shot but the ball came off the crossbar and crossed the line.
Then, just four minutes later, Chusrang took a low left-footer that skidded along the wet surface and into the back of the net with the Laitkor keeper unable to get to it.
The rain started to come down harder after this and there were patches of standing water around the ground, which made it more of a challenge for the players. Laitkor still had a couple of good shouts before half time, with a Sandy Kharkongor shot put out for a corner by the diving Langsning goalie, Rajat Paul Lyngdoh. A few minutes before the break Shanborlang Nonglait took a free-kick from a dangerous position but whacked it well wide.
The weather improved markedly in the second half and Laitkor came out fighting. Fridison clawed a goal back by snapping a header into the net from a cross while positioned right in front of goal and that spurred his team onwards for more.
There was a fantastic bicycle kick from Giovanni Syiemiong in the 73rd minute which was powerful and on target but a Langsning defender cleared it off the line.
On reflection, both teams probably should have slowed the pace down a little – the game was far too hectic and meaningful chances were often wasted, such was Langsning’s desire for victory and Laitkor’s for at least a point.
Tomorrow eighth-placed Mylliem will face fourth-placed Nangkiew Irat at 4:30pm. Mylliem are by no means safe from relegation with just a couple of games to go in their maiden SPL season and need something from what will be a difficult match against Nangkiew Irat, who are still in the hunt for the championship even if their form has suffered a little lately.
