Meghalaya State League Final: Khliehmawlieh and Rangdajied ready for intense showdown

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 16, 2023

In the much-anticipated final of the Meghalaya State League 2023, Khliehmawlieh Youth Club and Rangdajied United FC will compete for the coveted trophy. The match will take place on Saturday at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, with kick-off at 3 pm.

Both teams had impressive journeys to the final. They remained unbeaten in the group stage, with Rangdajied topping Group B and Khliehmawlieh leading Group D. However, they faced setbacks in the first leg of the semifinals. Rangdajied trailed 3-0 against Shillong Lajong, while Khliehmawlieh was 1-0 down to Mawlai. Remarkably, both teams staged incredible comebacks on June 13th. Khliehmawlieh secured a 3-1 win (3-2 on aggregate), and Rangdajied achieved a 3-0 victory before winning the subsequent penalty shootout.

The finalists expressed optimism at the pre-match press conference. Rangdajied’s assistant coach, Aibanjop Shadap, acknowledged the strength of Khliehmawlieh, stating that deserving teams make it to the final.

Khliehmawlieh’s vice-captain, Liverson Iawphniaw, expressed the high expectations and the historic significance of lifting the trophy for the club and West Khasi Hills.

The encounter between Khliehmawlieh and Rangdajied in the 2019 MSL ended in Rangdajied’s favour with a 1-0 score. Similar to the previous editions, this year’s MSL matches have been held across the state, providing opportunities for champion teams and promoting young players through the U-21 rule.

This season’s MSL has been notable for the strong challenges faced by the Shillong clubs, with Rangdajied encountering tough competition in Group B from Ladthadlaboh and Mulait United, while Lajong, though unbeaten, did not win all their matches. Mawlai were the only team to win all their group games but then came undone spectacularly on Tuesday.

Khliehmawlieh enters the final as the underdogs, while Rangdajied is eager to end their trophy drought. Regardless of the outcome, the result will hold immense significance for these Meghalaya clubs.