By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a major disappointment for the local football fans only one of the three local teams competing in the preliminary round of the Second Division I-League managed to make it to the final round of the tourney.
With Langsning FC and Ar-Hima failing to make to it to the next stage, Royal Wahingdoh FC (RWFC) is the only team fighting it out for a place in the prestigious I-League.
Wahingdoh earned a berth in the final round after beating Krenke FC from Mumbai 3-0. Whereas Langsning were defeated 1-2 by Goa Vasco SC. Ar-Hima’s dream of making it to the next level came to an end after Aizwal FC defeated Baichung Bhutia’s United Sikkim 3-0.
In the first match, Wahingdoh went into the lead in the 10th minute after Perry S Kolie netted a stunner for his side. Midfielder Chenco scored the second goal for the Royals in the 36th minute and skipper Seityacen Singh made it 3-0 in the 41st minute to almost seal the match for his side.
Kenkre FC scored a consolation goal in the second half as the match ended 3-1 in favour of Wahingdoh.
When contacted, RWFC coach Carlton Chapman said that it was very satisfying making it to the next stage.
“We would be looking forward to improve our performance in the final round,” Chapman added.
In the other match, Langsning FC went down 1-2 to Goa Vasco SC at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
Down by a goal, it was the two free kicks by Agnelo Colaco in the second half which enabled Vasco SC to come back to beat Langsning FC 2-1 and qualify for the final round. Trailing by a Vanlalnundanga goal at the interval, Colaco, the free-kick specialist, saw his team through with two superb dead ball executions.
Langsning started on an attacking note which kept the Vasco goalkeeper Agnelo Noronha busy under the bar. They did enjoy territorial domination and penetrated through the opposition defence a number of times. Langsning had a Victor Shadap goal disallowed in the 34th minute when the linesman ruled him off-side. However, their efforts bore fruit when Vanlalnudanga’s header off a Nabachandra Singh centre found the back of the net in the injury time of the first half.
The script early in the second half was no different. Langsning kept up the pressure but were not able to add to their tally.
Having little option left, Vasco counter-attacked and in the 67th minute, they restored parity off a free-kick after Agnelo curled it in from 20 yards to breathe life into the match. The free kick was awarded after Agnelo was tripped from behind.
Spurred, Vasco went all out. In the 85th minute, Agnelo scored again – this time off another free-kick. Isa Ali was tripped just outside the box and Agnelo executed it to perfection.
Meanwhile, Ar-Hima general secretary KF Kurbah also expressed his disappointment on the team’s failure to qualify for the next round. The Shillong side was praying for a draw to get them through into the final round ahead of Aizawl FC on account of better goal difference.