Shillong (Meghalaya), Dec 4: A nail-biting encounter between Shillong Lajong and Nongkseh at the SSA Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw, sending Nongkseh into the semifinals of the SSA Champions Cup. Kynsaibor Lhuid scored first for Nongkseh in the 67th minute, but Deibormame Tongper equalized for Lajong in the 76th minute.
The draw marked the end of Nongkseh’s 11-game winning streak across the First Division and the Champions Cup. However, it was enough to secure their spot in the semifinals. For Lajong, who had already qualified for the semis, the draw extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches across various tournaments.
In the day’s earlier fixture, Meghalaya Police consolidated their hold on first place in Group A with a 3-0 win over Mylliem Lum. Chesterfield Nongdhar scored twice, and Balmingstar Lyngkhoi added another goal, giving MLP their third win and 10 points. They had already booked their place in the knockout round.
The match between Lajong and Nongkseh was a closely contested affair, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Nongkseh dominated the first half but failed to break through Lajong’s defense, thanks to the brilliant goalkeeping of Wanteilang Malngiang. The second half saw Lajong slow down the pace, but Nongkseh’s Kynsaibor scored a crucial goal before Deibormame equalized for Lajong.
