By Our Reporter
Shillong, Oct 6: Reigning champions Shillong Lajong moved to the top of the Shillong Premier League 2025 standings with a 4-0 victory over Sawmer at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, On Monday evening.
Lajong bagged 3 points with a goal each from Banlamkupar Rynjah (45’+3), Emanbha Marbaniang (67’), Iohborlang L Lyngkhoi (71’) and Franky Dkhar (84’).
Victory puts SLFC on top with 15 points, tied with Mawlai but with head-to-head advantage.
Nangkiew Irat (13 points), however, could reclaim first place if they beat Langsning on Tuesday.
Sawmer adopted a defensive stance from the start, mindful perhaps of their poor record against Lajong. Jeffrey Jyrwa made a sharp save from a Iohborlang free-kick in the 20th minute and Sawmer almost maintained equilibrium until the lemon break but Banlamkupar scored in stoppage time. In what proved to be the last action of the first 45 minutes, he was fed a through ball and Banlam timed his run perfectly, leaving him only to ease the ball past Jeffrey for the lead.
The Sawmer custodian made another sharp save early in the second half but Lajong piled on the pressure and found three more goals.
Up the right flank, Rimankhraw Kharumnuid put in an excellent cross for Emanbha to tap in soon after the latter was brought on as a substitute.
Four minutes later, captain Iohborlang struck a long-range shot as sweetly as possible. Franky, another substitute, fired in a low left-footer that Jeffrey got a glove to but could not keep out. Banlamkupar had a couple of good opportunities in the second half as well and should have had a hat-trick but placed both of them off target.
On the other hand, Sawmer had little in the way of chances but, looking at the bigger picture, their fight is not really against Lajong or the top teams but more against those in the lower half of the table. Sawmer remain in fifth place with 9 points.
Tuesday will be another crunch match, between Nangkiew Irat and Langsning, and it will be watched closely by Lajong and Mawlai too. Nangkiew Irat currently have 13 points and would retake the lead if they beat Langsning.
For their part, Langsning are fourth on 11 points and would climb to third if they win, while a draw would leave the positions unchanged. The match will kick off at 4:30pm.
