SHILLONG: Saturday’s first match in the ongoing U-14 Football Tournament was played between Ryntih SC and Nongrah SC, with the former coming through by a fairly comfortable margin of three goals to one.
All four goals in the game were scored in the second half with the first 30 minutes of the contest proving to be an interesting, albeit goalless, tussle between the two teams.
Rudolf Thangkiew scored the first of Ryntih’s goals in the 45th minute and Vianni Pathaw added another for the team three minutes later.
Taking the score to 3-0, Batskhem Dkhar added his contribution in the 53rd minute, with Nongrah earning a consolation goal in the 56th minute through Vanchester Pyngrope.
Nongkseh got the better of Smit in the second match of the day 1-0, thanks to a goal scored in the 35th minute by Joffey Tangsong. Although Smit’s players tried their hearts out, an equaliser eluded them for the rest of the game. Both teams, however, were already out of contention for a place in the last-four.
Meanwhile, Malki defeated Mawkhar in a tight game, 3-2. Pynkhambor Suting scored a hat-trick for the winners, his goals coming in the fourth, 41st and 45th minutes.
Malki will need to beat Lawmali on Monday, but also need Risa Colony to beat Marbisu if they want to reach the semifinals.
Mawkhar, though not in contention for a semifinal place, fought hard and gave Malki a scare as they scored in the 43rd and 59th minutes.
In the last match of the day, Lawmali went down to Marbisu 0-6, with the winners scoring three goals apiece in either half. Among the goal-scorers was Aiboklang Khyriem, who recorded a brace in the 23rd and 64th minutes.
Lawmali came into the match knowing that they could not qualify, but did not give up until the final whistle, despite the one-sided scoreline.
Monday’s matches: The last day of the league stage will see Risa Colony play Marbisu at 12:45pm and Lawmali will face Malki at 2:15pm.