SHILLONG: I-League debutants Royal Wahingdoh FC became the first team from the Northeast to secure a top three finish in the history of the I-League after East Bengal and Pune FC lost their respective games on Saturday.
Wahingdoh ended the season at the third spot with 30 points from 20 games with 8 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses. The Royals had started the season with a hat trick of wins and backed themselves up with consistent performances throughout to finish ahead of several famed opponents in the standings.
In the course of the season Wahingdoh also gave birth to new stars of Indian football, several of whom are now vying for places in the Indian side with as many as six shortlisted for the upcoming India camp being conducted to select players for World Cup qualifier matches.
On the occasion, the Club thanked the Meghalaya Football Association, the Shillong Sports Association, the Sports Department, Police and other government agencies for their cooperation throughout.
The club also thanked the team’s fans or the 12th man, the volunteers and the “entire Wahingdoh community and well wishers without whose support, the journey would not have been possible.”
RWFC also congratulated Shillong Lajong FC for avoiding relegation.
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Mumbai FC beat Bharat FC to finish sixth
Meanwhile, Creative midfielder Taisuke Matsugae scored a brilliant goal in stoppage time to help Mumbai FC beat a fighting Bharat FC 2-1 and finish the I-League Football in sixth position with 24 points at the Cooperage ground in Mumbai on Saturday.
While Mumbai had taken an early lead in the game, played in hot and humid conditions, Bharat FC’s Palestine import Omar Jaarun came off the bench and scored.
Earlier, Lawrence had sent in the cross off a corner kick from the right for Mehta to jump over the Bharat FC defence and bury his header into the left bottom corner of the net and provide Mumbai the lead in the 10th minute.
In the end, it came to a piece of brilliance from Taisuke to break the deadlock and give Mumbai their fifth win – and second against Bharat FC after a 2-0 first leg verdict – of the season.
Odafe’s hattrick powered Sporting to win, save relegation
Meanwhile, Odafe Okalie scored a hatrick to guide Sporting Clube de Goa to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Pune FC and save relegation in the final round of the Hero I-League, played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, in Margao on Saturday.
Sporting Clube de Goa, who were in the relegation from the start, came strongly in the latter part of the second leg after recruiting Odafe Okalie — on loan from Churchill Brothers — and Brandon Fernandes. Sporting scored through Odafe Okolie (27th, 68th and 92+2) and Sandesh Jhingan(41st) to earn themselves the top-flight status for another year.
