Shillong Premier League
SHILLONG: A successful penalty kick by Niwan-o-Gatphoh was all that separated MLP and defending champions Royal Wahingdoh in their Shillong Premier League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Friday.
MLP’s narrow 1-0 victory sees them increase their points tally to nine, just one behind fourth-placed team Nangkiew Irat.
The Royals played some listless football early on and only picked up their game after conceding the goal.
Their defeat leaves them on 16 points, 11 behind leaders Rangdajied United, who have played one more match.
Both teams played out a goalless first half that lacked much entertainment under grey and spitting skies.
The match finally came alive after the hour mark when the referee spotted a handball by RWFC’s Algan in the box and awarded the police a penalty, which Gatphoh calmly converted.
Wahingdoh then went onto the offensive, throwing themselves constantly at the MLP defensive line, which withstood the attacks.
The defending champs came close on a few occasions, with defender Lalchhawnkima’s header almost giving them the equaliser in the 74th minute but for the ball smacking into the crossbar.
What irked Wahingdoh most, though, were a couple of questionable off-side calls by the linesman and there were some ugly scenes after the match when the RWFC players and an official argued vigorously with the referee, leading to some pushing and shoving.
On Friday, Malki will play Nangkiew Irat at 2:45pm.