SHILLONG: A rampant East Khasi Hills boys team will face off against West Jaintia Hills at 9:00am on Friday at the JN Sports Complex, Polo, in first semifinal of the State Level Chief Minister’s Football Tournament for the under-12s, while Ri-Bhoi will take on West Khasi Hills at 10:30am in the second semi.
In the girls division, South West Khasi Hills will play East Khasi Hills at 9:00am, while Ri-Bhoi go up against East Jaintia Hills at 10:30am for a place in the final.
The final round of group matches was held on Thursday and in a rehearsal of the last-four stage, the East Khasi Hills boys beat West Jaintia Hills 7-1 thanks in part to the second hat-trick of the tournament by Armystar Shadap, who scored in the sixth, ninth, 36th and 39th minutes. RickyJohn Kharmalki (8th minute), Remack Kharmalki (41st) and Mebanrikupar Rynjah (47th) also added their names to the scoresheet for EKH, while Promi Suting was the lone scorer for WJH.
East Jaintia Hills also put up a strong performance by defeating South Garo Hills 5-0. Emaroy Dkhar (25th, 45th) and Wansuk Sutnga (35th, 46th) scored doubles, while Romimakrson Nongtdu got the game going with the first goal in the 21st minute.
In the final boys group game, Ri-Bhoi overcame South West Khasi Hills 4-2 in a close encounter. Franky Thabah opened the scoring for Ri-Bhoi in the third minute and Fragrant S Mawlong then doubled the lead 14 minutes later. However, Edleson Lyngdoh’s two goals (37th, 38th) saw SWKH fight back before Devenstar Thongni (40th) retook the lead for Ri-Bhoi, with Franky scoring his side’s fourth in the 45th minute.
The girls’ fixtures saw comparatively fewer goals scored, with West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills victorious in their respective matches.
WJH beat South Garo Hills 1-0 through a lone goal from Senpedim D Shira (13th), although victory was not enough to secure the team’s place in the semis.
Rushia Dkhar’s 22nd minute goal proved to be the winner for East Jaintia Hills against North Garo Hills.
East Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills, meanwhile, played out a goalless draw.