Shillong, Sep 25: An energetic Shillong Premier League 2025 match between Laitkor and Rangdajied United ended 2-2 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here today.
Menangpyndap Khongjee (25’) scored first for Rangdajied but Laitkor came back at them with goals by Fridison Wanniang (45’+2) and Giovanni Syiemiong (61’). Rangdajied’s Denelson Pyngrope then equalised in the 84th.
Fifth-placed Laitkor stay where they are as a result of this draw – they now have 8 points and are behind Langsning on goal difference (+9 to +1). Rangdajied were the ones who really needed points from today as they were in the relegation zone before kick-off. Although they would have preferred more, the solitary point moved RUFC (-4 goal difference) up to sixth position, tied on 6 points with Malki (-10) and Sawmer (-11) but with a better goal difference. However, Rangdajied have played one game more than these other two clubs and are running out of time to get their SPL 2025 campaign going.
Menangpyndap struck the crossbar with his first attempt of the match in the 15th minute but there was no stopping his second, which was a clean left-footer from the edge of the box. Laitkor were able to equalise in the last action of the first half when Fridison, who came on as a substitute for Freelyson Tariang, got to a diagonal and hooked it past the advancing goalkeeper Kerichard L Marshillong.
Just past the hour mark, Giovanni scored from a tight angle and Laitkor were now in the ascendant and looking for their third win of the season. However, Denelson made sure that was not to be as he rose above the rest and headed in a corner a few minutes from the final whistle.
Rangdajied will rue several missed opportunities to really take the game away from Laitkor, which they could have done in the first half itself. They were far more attacking today; RUFC had scored just two goals in their previous five matches but came out a different side.
They had a supreme chance in only the third minute through a corner that was delivered close to the goal mouth. Some hesitation between Laitkor keeper Deranius Wahlang and his defenders gave Rangdajied a chance but, despite several attempts in a melee, they were unable to push the ball over the line.
Another corner 10 minutes later saw a header strike the bar and bounce back in play but Rangdajied were again unable to convert. After that, Judiciousman Khonglah had a good chance after working his way into the box but his 20th minute shot from close range was miscued and went wide. Then Denelson, some 50 minutes before he eventually scored, headed a free-kick over the crossbar.
These missed chances continued in the early part of the second half when Freddy Jyrwa’s strong shot on target was blocked, equally strongly, by Deranius. On the other hand, Laitkor did not have too many chances other than those they scored from. Perhaps the only real one came early in the game when Shanborlang Nonglait’s long-range free-kick swerved in the air and forced Kerichard into making a really good diving save.
Another crucial match will take place tomorrow when Sawmer face Mylliem at 3:30pm. These two sides are eighth and ninth in the points table respectively and need to climb up in what is a very hotly contested season.
