By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Restom Khriam struck in the 61st minute to help Ar-Hima SC beat Lang-sning SC 1-0 in the third semi-final of the Shillong Premier League at the First Division Ground, Polo on Wednesday.
With this victory, Ar-Hima has set up a title clash with tournament favourites Royal Wahingdoh on Saturday.
However despite the win, the performance of Ar-Hima was below par considering the fact that they were playing a much weaker Langsning side which had many of its seasoned players sweating it out at the Bordoloi Trophy in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Infact, the young Langsning side started in an impressive way displaying great skills with the ball which was a treat for the hundreds of the local football fans present.
Apart from dominating the ball possession, the Langsning players continued to consistently penetrate into the Ar-Hima defence.
Credit also goes to the Ar-Hima defenders who were rock solid in denying their opponents any real chance to score.
Langsning’s best chance to take lead came in the 35th minute when its striker Victor Shadap missed an open opportunity to score.
Meanwhile, Ar-Hima players failed to impress throughout the first half.
The favourites (Ar-Hima) for the game seemed out of sorts and did not look half as dangerous a squad which had defeated MLPFT in the second semi-final.
After a disappointing first half, Ar-Hima regrou-ped to come back strongly in the second. The team dispalyed an aggressive brand of football which put the Lang-sning def-enders in a spot of bother.
Re-stom Biam scored a brilliant goal of a mis collected ball by Langsning goalkeeper Larry JW Diengdoh in the 61st minute to make it 1-0 for Ar-Hima.
Langsning tried hard to get the all important equaliser in the final stages of the match but their efforts were thwarted by the Ar-Hima defenders like Loveday Enyinnaya who were professional in their approach throughout the match.
Meanwhile, as expected it was an almost full house at the First Division Ground on Wednesday which had enthusiastic crowd who came out in support of the respective teams.