By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A relatively small crowd gathered for the third place play-off between Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, but those that came were witness to eight goals, with the hosts winning the match 6-2, in the highest-scoring contest thus far in the fourth Dr T Ao Memorial Football Tournament, played at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Tuesday.
The home fans were treated to a goal early on when Meghalaya took the lead via a free kick just two yards outside the Arunachal box in the fifth minute.
Skipper Niwan O Gatphoh stood up to take the shot and curled his left-footer over the head of the opposition custodian Tadu Taka and into the net.
Arunachal equalised in the 26th minute in their first real attack on the hosts’ citadel.
After a foray was rebuffed, Arunachal put a long ball in that caught the Meghalaya defenders off guard. Going one on one with the keeper, Alwyn Patweth, Tadar Kojum struck the ball cleanly to level the scores 1-1, giving the visitors their first goal against Meghalaya, who beat them 3-0 in the initial group fixture.
Meghalaya retook the lead in the 33rd minute after a slight fumble by Taka in the box.
Gatphoh, deep on the left flank, took a powerful shot on goal, but although Taka was there to cover it, he couldn’t collect the ball and Kharumnuid was there in front of the goalmouth finish the job with ease.
The visiting team had a surprise in store for the hosts right on half time, however.
Nyamar Loyi took a gem of a free kick on the left flank just outside the Meghalaya box. Curling it around a wall made up of four players, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced down into the path of Hage Kemo, who put the ball in, taking the score to 2-2 at half time.
The two teams did not settle for the four goals scored in the first half, with Kharumnuid scoring his second of the day in the 50th minute for Meghalaya to go 3-2 up.
Receiving a chip deep inside the opposition half, he broke free from the defenders and thundered the ball into the net.
Given that Arunachal had twice come back to equalise, Meghalaya would have been thankful for some additional breathing space when they went 4-2 up in the 62nd minute through a desperate bicycle kick by Bickyson Kharkongor.
Milancy Khongstia attempted a strong shot on goal from the left flank, but the Arunachal goalie blocked it only to see Kharkongor’s put the ball in through his acrobatics.
Gatphoh scored another in the 70th minute. He had possession of the ball just inside the box and, sizing up his chances, he fired in another to claim his brace.
Arunachal were not without their chances as they had a good chance at a header in the 75th minute that went over the crossbar.
Teiborlang Siangshai then added his name to the score sheet in the 79th minute with a powerful shot on goal from three yards outside the box that beat the diving Taka to his right.
A couple of minutes later, Gatphoh, looking for his hat-trick, put in a good attempt on goal with a curling right-footer, but it went wide of the post.
Arunachal then had a half chance with Kojum attempting a header, but he couldn’t quite reach the ball and match ended 6-2 in Meghalaya’s favour.
The tournament will conclude on Wednesday with the final between defending champions Mizoram and Manipur, who won the first two editions of the competition.
Given the strong support both teams have received in their matches thus far, the JN Stadium is likely to be abuzz for the grand finale.
The two finalists played each other in a Group B match earlier on, but nothing much can be read from that game, as it was drawn 0-0.
With a day’s rest to restore themselves, both teams will be looking to bring their A-game on Wednesday in order to come out as victors and claim their place as the best team from the North-East.