Shillong, Nov 2: The SSA Super Cup 2025 delivered the thrills that a knockout football tournament can when giants Mawlai were made to fight hard to secure a 5-4 win on penalties against Sawmer after extra time ended 3-3 in in the second playoff at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here on Saturday evening.
The extraordinary match saw Sawmer hold the lead twice before ultimately falling at the final hurdle. Mawlai had a perfect penalty shootout, scoring five times from the spot, while Sawmer had one of theirs, by Orestar Sad, denied by Mawlai goalkeeper Damangbha Rymbai.
The scoreboard was even at every major break in play – 1-1 at half time, 2-2 at 90 minutes and 3-3 after extra time. Bickyson Kharkongor (10′) and Diego Khyriem (90’+2, 96′) scored for Sawmer while Robertson Khongriah (20′), Banraplang Pyngrope (53’) and Mewan Rasmut (97′) did so for Mawlai.
The SSA Super Cup, organised by the Shillong Sports Association, adds another level of competition and excitement for fans of the game, with the Top 6 from the Shillong Premier League 2025 battling it out in knockout tournament. As the SPL 2025 champions Langsning and runners-up Shillong Lajong qualified directly for the semis.
On Friday Rangdajied United defeated Nangkiew Irat 3-0 and yesterday it was the turn of Mawlai and Sawmer, who had finished third and sixth in the SPL standings, to settle the last remaining vacancy in the semifinal lineup.
Sawmer were defeated by Mawlai 6-2 in the SPL this year and have lost every time to their dominant opponents in the two seasons before as well.
Yet it was they who snatched the lead out of nowhere in the 10th minute when Bickyson skirted a shot low along the ground while slightly off balance to beat the keeper.
Mawlai chased after the equaliser and found it, when Shelblikstar Kharshilot attempted a shot that was probably on target but which benefited when Robert’s boot deflected the ball and left Sawmer custodian Edison Suna rooted to the spot.
Early in the second half, a foul in a dangerous position saw Banraplang deliver an accurate free-kick to give Mawlai the lead.
Sawmer imposed a great deal of pressure late in the game but it looked as though Mawlai would come away with victory only for Diego to have other ideas, as he headed in a cross in stoppage time to restore parity.
That took the game into 30 minutes of extra time but it needed just six minutes before Diego had his second, this time scoring with his boot. Sawmer’s joy, however, was short-lived as Mawlai immediately countered at the restart and this time substitute Mewan Rasmut scored from inside the box even with a number of defenders surrounding him.
A double yellow for Banman Roy Nongsiej of Sawmer did not have any impact as it was just before extra time ended. Sawmer swapped goalkeepers, bringing on Jeffrey Jyrwa for Edison, just prior to the tiebreaker but Mawlai kept Damangbha between the sticks.
Damang had sat on the bench throughout the SPL and had conceded three times in open play yesterday. That did not affect his confidence, however, and he punched away Orestar’s spot kick to become Mawlai’s hero at the end.
There were plenty of smiles in the Mawlai camp but they were more from relief than overt joy. A major upset had been averted, but only just.
For his goal and fine performance in defence, Mawlai’s Banraplang was named the T7 Player of the Match and received his memento and cheque of Rs 5,000 from SSA President Banteidor Lyngdoh MLA.
Attention will now turn to the last-four. Rangdajied will meet Langsning in the first semifinal on 7 November, while Mawlai will face Lajong the following day. Both games will begin at 5pm.
