SHILLONG: Royal Wahingdoh FC romped into the final round of U-18 I-League beating Shillong Lajong 3-0 in the MFA Ground, Polo here on Monday.
One goal in the first half and a couple more in the second were enough to tame the second-placed Lajong side. The heroes of the day were Sirandeep Moran, who scored a brace (29’ and 68’) and Phrangki Buam (62’) who converted brilliantly off a free kick.
The win took RWFC to 16 points from six matches giving them a spot in the final round. Lajong, meanwhile, remain second with 12 points from 7 games.
Earlier, the Royals started in their usual aggressive note but were tackled well by the opponents for the first 25 minutes or so.
The table-toppers, however, broke the deadlock a minute before the half hour mark when Suraj Rawat gently crossed one to Sirandeep almost at centre park and the latter, taking advantage of an advancing SLFC custodian, placed the ball to perfection from a distance. As the ball rolled into the nets, Lajong had only themselves to blame for the defensive lapse.
Lajong too created a few chances in the first half but could convert none.
Crossing over, Lajong resisted a few raids initially but super sub Phrangki Buam’s brilliance doubled the lead for RWFC two minutes after the hour mark. Phrangki pulled off a stunner from a tight angle on the right off a free kick as Wahingdoh went 2-0 up.
Barely five minutes later, Sirandeep completed his brace as RWFC took a 3-0 lead to virtually take the game away from the opponents.
“It’s been all about consistency. Our boys have done well from the very outset. Our aim now is to take the momentum to the final round,” RWFC assistant coach Aibok Kharpran said after the match.
