Second Division I-League line-up decided
SHILLONG: Royal Wahingdoh FC progressed to the final round of the Second Division I-League with a 2-0 victory over PIFA Sports in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, on Monday.
The goals were scored by the team’s foreign strikers Atsushi Yonezawa and Babatunde Badmus.
Wahingdoh topped Group A with 11 points, while Kalighat Milan Sangha came second after beating Green Valley of Assam 2-1.
The Kolkata club scored through James Gbilee and Zodinliana, in the 71st and the 83rd minute, respectively, according to the official I-League website.
Kalighat also ended on 11 points, but with a lower goal difference (+10) than RWFC (+17).
The two teams will join Group B’s Hindustan FC and Bhawanipore FC, who qualified on February 15, in the final round, along with United Sikkim FC, who were granted an automatic place.
One more match is still to be held in Group A on Tuesday – between Garhwal FC and MP United FC – but it has been rendered a dead rubber as neither side can make up the points difference.
The Royals came through against PIFA after a goalless first half.
The defence of the opposition was tough to crack, but Yonezawa found the opening on the hour mark and earned a goal and the lead for his team following a Jackichand Singh corner kick that the Japanese striker headed in.
The final blow was delivered 20 minutes later through a well-timed shot by Babatunde.
The Nigerian worked his way into the penalty box before sending an unstoppable ball past the PIFA goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead, which Wahingdoh held on to until the final whistle.
The final round will be played exclusively in the North East from late March, with Silchar hosting the first phase and Aizawl the second.
Each team will play a total of eight matches – four in each phase of the final round.