By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Hosts Meghalaya reached the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Assam in the Dr T Ao Memorial Football Tournament at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Friday.
Arunachal also confirmed their place in the last four with a 2-1 win over Nagaland in the earlier match on Friday.
Group A leaders Meghalaya started the game positively and a free kick halfway up the Assam half almost yielded a goal but Ronnie Nongbri’s shot was put over the bar by Dulu Gogoi, the Assam keeper.
Greeting Wahlang put the home team ahead in the 12th minute by heading the ball into the net off a corner.
It was fairly easy for him as he was not marked by any Assam defender.
Bickyson Kharkongor had a more difficult chance for another header soon after. He received a lofted ball in the Assam box while running forward and his attempt went wide of the goal.
In the 23rd minute, Niwan-O-Gatphoh came storming through and took a strong right footer, but it was blocked by Gogoi.
Although on the back foot after the conceding a goal, Assam were by no means a weak side and they created numerous chances for themselves, but without success.
The visiting team put Meghalaya’s defence under a lot of pressure, with keeper Alwyn Patweth also having to perform at the top of his game.
They won themselves a corner in the 31st minute and although an Assam player got his head to the ball, it went wide of the post.
Wahlang came off for Milancy Khongstia in the 32nd minute. Despite scoring the first goal, he had made a few errors in his footwork.
Eight minutes later, the home team doubled the lead but they were slightly fortunate to do so.
Close to the far line, Gatphoh squeezed out a fine angled shot, which the Assam goalie seemed to have covered, but the ball came off his body and sneaked over the goal line.
Just on 45 minutes, Gatphoh sent the crowd into a tizzy with a cheeky attempt on goal, as he approached the post from the left side.
Looking to pass it to a team mate, but finding no one free, he chipped the ball only to find the side of the net.
The first half ended 2-0, with Assam’s chances of reaching the semis slipping away.
They got the game going in the second half with a strong shot on goal that just went wide of the post seconds after the restart.
The second half was relatively quiet, but Brolington Warlarpih shot over the crossbar in the 55th minute.
And in the 70th minute, Teiborlang Siangshai was set up for a strike on goal from eight yards outside the Assam box, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.
In the 76th minute Gogoi pulled off a terrific save where he had to leap into the air to stop the ball that was hammered by Warlarpih from just outside the box.
The stalemate in the ses-sion was broken by substi-tute Kerionald Pyngrope in the 83rd minute.
Meghalaya had advanced up the left flank and Pyngrope was in clear air outside the box. He set himself up and his beautiful left-footer sailed into the top corner with the keeper unable to stop it.
The action continued on, but Assam were unable to respond and bowed out of the tournament rather meekly.
Saturday sees the last group stage matches, with Sikkim to take on Tripura at 1pm, while Mizoram clash with Manipur at 5pm.
Tripura, with one point, need to beat Sikkim, who are last and effectively out of the tournament, to have a shot at being in the semis.
Sikkim, however, despite losing two matches, haven’t been pushovers and could pose a danger to Tripura.
But they also need defending champions and group leaders Mizoram to beat Manipur (four points) in the evening fixture.
Manipur currently have a goal difference of +2, which Tripura, in the red with -3, will have to better.
Mizoram are already through to the next stage, but will still want to win their match; if they finish first in the group, they will play Arunachal Pradesh in the semifinals on Monday.
Whoever comes second in Group B will take on hosts Meghalaya.
