Shillong, November 28: A rampaging Shillong Lajong dealt a rough 8-0 blow against Mawlynrei in the SSA Champions Cup 2025, with a second consecutive hat-trick for Riborlang L Lyngkhoi at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here today.
Later, also in Group B, Laitkyrhong were down a goal but fought back for a 5-2 win against Mawkriah West.
Riborlang (37’, 44’, 55’), Emanbha Marbaniang (13’, 61’), Deibormame Tongper (65’, 89’) and Babysunday Marngar (73’) were Lajong’s scorers in another stomping win that eclipsed their 6-0 result versus Mawkriah West earlier in the week. Riborlang had also scored a treble then and he is the tournament’s top scorer with 6 goals at present.
Laitkyrhong scored through Wallamsuk Nongkhlaw (24’, 62’), Learningstar Warlarpih (30’, 84’) and Dibinroy Nongspung (54’), while Mawkriah West found the back of the net twice with Dibarson Kharbudnah (11’) and Enestar Malngiang (63’).
Emanbha set the tone early with a beautiful curling free-kick for Lajong’s first goal. Mawlynrei, runners-up in the Fourth Division and playing their first game of the Champions Cup, were out of their depth, even with the five more experienced players on loan that the lower division teams are allowed to take on for this tournament.
Still, Mawlynrei thought they might have had the equaliser just five minutes later but it was overruled for offside. Rihoklang Khongjoh, Mawlynrei’s goalkeeper taken on loan from Mylliem, blocked a shot in the 37th minute but Ribor scored from the rebound. He then created space in the box on the cusp of half time to net his second goal of the day.
This hat-trick goal came early in the second half when he was fed a through ball that he had to thread past the advancing Rihoklang. Then was Emanbha’s turn to score his second as he steamed up the left flank to whack in a cross. There was no let-up in pressure as SLFC were relentless. Substitute Deibormame sidestepped the goalie for his first goal and then had the easiest of tap-ins for his second. In between Babysunday also found success with a cracking right-footer past two defenders and the keeper.
There were almost as many goals in the second match but this was far less one-sided. Both teams had lost their opening fixtures – as mentioned earlier Mawkriah West went down 6-0 to Lajong while Laitkyrhong were pipped by Nongkseh 1-0.
Honour Lucky Nongbri fed a ball forwards for Dibarson, who was actually a late inclusion in the starting line-up, and the latter fired in the ball while on the run from the right flank. However, Laitkyrhong were able to equalise and take the lead, all within the first half an hour. Wallamsuk bundled over a cross to make it 1-1 and a few minutes later Mawkriah West goalie Sunshine Kharmuti failed to gather a ball and Laitkyrhong’s Learningstar made him pay for that mistake. Mawkriah almost had another goal in the first half but Banteilang Lyngdoh’s shot struck the crossbar and bounced down but did not cross the goal line.
After the break, Mawkriah brought on Mark Franky Lyngdoh in place of Sunshine but even he could not deny veteran Dibinroy, who got his legs going to race to a through ball before the advancing goalkeeper and score. Wallamsuk then scored his second with a neat lob but Enestar pulled one back to show that Mawkriah West’s fighting spirit was undimmed.
Sebius Kharkrang could have further reduced the margin for Mawkriah but placed a tame shot into Laitkyrhong keeper Honesstar Khyriem’s gloves. In the end, Learningstar made sure that his team walked away with 5 goals on the board as he smashed in a shot while in plenty of space on the right flank.
After today Lajong are on top of the Group B standings with 6 points, while Nongkseh and Laitkyrhong have 3 each and Mawlynrei and Mawkriah West 0 points.
There will be just one match tomorrow, in Group A, between Meghalaya Police and Mawkasiang at the new time of 2:30pm.
