Rangdajied’s 10 men secure win, remain unbeaten in Shillong Premier League

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 26, 2024

Rangdajied United FC maintained their flawless winning streak in the Shillong Premier League 2023 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against defending champions Mawlai SC at the SSA Stadium, First Ground, Polo on Friday. With only 10 men in the last 20 minutes, Rangdajied secured the win.

With 18 points from six games, Rangdajied now leads the round-robin stage, standing 5 points ahead of Mawlai. While Mawlai secures a semifinal spot, their final position in the Top 4 remains undecided. Semifinal fixtures released by the Shillong Sports Association reveal Rangdajied as the top team, set to clash with the eventual fourth-placed side on May 7, while the second and third-placed teams will meet on May 8.

Rangdajied dominated the match, with goals from Aenam Jyrwa (37’) and Basuk Bina (63’), despite a setback when Arlangky Nongsiej received a red card. Mawlai’s relentless efforts paid off with a goal from Arkibor Makhroh (90’+2), but Rangdajied’s goalkeeper Kerichard L Marshillong’s heroics, including saving a penalty from Mawlai captain Brolington Warlarpih, sealed the win.

Tensions rose as the match progressed, leading to seven yellow cards – four for Rangdajied and three for Mawlai. Despite Mawlai’s late penalty opportunity, which was wasted by Brolington, Rangdajied navigated the final minutes to secure victory, inching closer to a perfect round-robin stage.