SHILLONG: Atsushi Yonezawa scored a hat-trick as Royal Wahingdoh FC closed the league stage of the Shillong Premier League with a 5-0 victory over Pohkseh at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Wednesday.
The Japanese striker’s triple was complemented by a goal each from Salvit Tongper and David Lalthansanga, with the Royals scoring four in the second half.
With this victory, the defending champions keep hold of third place in the SPL with 26 points. Pohkseh end in seventh with four points.
Tongper provided RWFC the lead in the 34th minute, the only goal scored in the first half.
Pohkseh, who will be relegated to the First Division next season, put up a spirited display against the Royals, who were without some of their first team players.
However, the minnows were outplayed in the second session, conceding four goals.
Incredibly, Man-of-the-Match Yonezawa scored two of his goals in under a minute (65th) and completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later when his shot rebounded off the goalkeeper, Maverick Nongkhlaw, and popped up at just the right height for the striker to head the ball in.
Lalthansanga then finished off the match by placing a nice shot past the keeper in the 87th minute and the match ended 5-0.
The defending champions thus ended their league campaign with eight wins, four losses and two draws.
It has not been the best performance from them this season, but they have done enough to remain in contention for the title as the SPL enters the next round.
