By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: PK Ningleithing struck twice as Langsning FC beat Shillong Premier League (SPL) Champions Royal Wahingdoh 2-1 to storm into the semifinal of the 22nd All India Meghalaya Invitation Football Tournament played at First Division Ground, Polo here on Tuesday.
Wahingdoh would now have to beat Yeti Himalayan Sherpas, Nepal on Saturday to qualify for the last four. Even though a second string Wahingdoh took the field here on Tuesday, nothing can be taken away from the spirited Langsning team who had earlier faced back-to-back defeats in the SPL and Bordoloi Trophy against arch rivals Wahingdoh.
Ningleithing scored in the 19th and the 63rd minutes respectively while Wahingdoh’s Gyan Moyon netted one in the 37th minute.
In an evenly contested encounter, both teams started aggressively in search of an early lead.
There was anticipation in the air as defenders on either side of the field were kept busy. But it was Langsning who first broke the deadlock after PK Ningleithing made a great run into the Wahingdoh box tackling past three defenders to score a stunner much to the delight of the sizeable crowd present.
Despite conceding the goal, there was no let-up from the Royals who went all out in search of the equaliser.
It was in the 37th minute that striker Gyan Moyon found the nets as the first half soon ended with the scores levelled.
Langsning, looking for that elusive win against Wahingdoh, came back strong in the second half to dominate the ball possession. A free kick was awarded to Langsning in the 63rd minute when its Korean midfielder Ho Jun Shin was brought down by the opposition defender.
Shin took an excellent kick to find PK Ningleithing who headed the ball into the woodwork to give Langsning a 2-1 lead.
Wahingdoh missed the chance to level the scores in the closing stages of the match when Francis Egware’s header of a Marlangki Suting free kick missed the goal by a whisker.
On Wednesday, MLPFT would take on Ar-Hima.
A draw would take the State Police team into the semi-final. On the other hand, Ar-Hima has already qualified for the last four.