Shillong, Jan 31: Meghalaya will have to wait until tomorrow morning to know whether they will progress to the quarterfinals of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 after their last Group B match ended 2-2 against Railways in Silapathar, Assam, today. This was Meghalaya’s third draw in the last four games.
What they will have to wait for is the match between Services and Kerala, which was postponed to tomorrow morning. Only the top four sides from each group will progress to the knockouts and a win for Services by any margin will put them through and drop Meghalaya out of the running. Currently Meghalaya are fourth on 6 points, while Services have 3. The latter, however, have a better goal difference (-1 to -2). Services have yet to win a match but Kerala may choose to rest their strongest players as they are already confirmed in first place in Group B.
In today’s other match, Punjab defeated bottom side Odisha 5-2 to leapfrog Meghalaya into third place.
The game against Railways was a treat for any football fan, with both sides in the lead at different points of the game. Meghalaya conceded first with an unlucky own goal (65′), equalised through Apborlang Kurbah (66′) and then took the lead via Mebankhraw Wahlang (73′). However, Railways were able to level after that thanks to Johnson Joseph Mathews (75′) and they held on for a point, which was enough to send them through to the quarters, along with Punjab and Kerala.
Meghalaya coach Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh made five changes to the starting line-up from the loss against Kerala two days ago. Banshanskhem Kharsyntiew got his first opportunity in goal in the final round, taking the place of Rajat Paul Lyngdoh. Dibormi Kassar, Babysunday Marngar and Dawanchwa C Challam all made a return to the first XI.
The biggest addition was Hardy Cliff Nongbri, who made his return to the state team after finishing with his club duties for Nongkseh. He had not had any real time to train with his Meghalaya team mates since the end of the preliminary round in December but Syiemlieh felt that his experience, leadership abilities and skill in the midfield was important to have in the team. The other players replaced were Fairming Suting, Mebanshngain Kurkalang, Robertson Khongriah and Marbiangki Suchiang.
Before the defeat to Kerala, Meghalaya had held Services to a draw, drew with Punjab on 24 January and beat Odisha in their opener on 22 January.
Banshanskhem had a bruising start after being clattered by a Railways player in the first minute of the match but he brushed off that knock and continued on. Though there were interesting openings for both sides, the first half ended goalless, even as Meghalaya finished with two good shouts for Deibormame Tongper. In stoppage time he rattled the upright with a powerful left-footer following a corner and then had the ball gifted to him following a coming together of two Railways players. However, this time his attempt was off his less favoured right foot and was well wide.
Railways were the stronger team immediately after the break and Meghalaya had a worrying few minutes early in the second half but they were able to hold off the opposition.
The one really great escape came in the 52nd minute when Railways were on the attack. Banshanskhem came out and was beaten by a forward but Wanboklang Lyngkhoi managed to race back and put himself between opponent and ball and clear the danger away.
Meghalaya then came close on the hour with a chance for Apborlang but he fired it wide past the advancing goalkeeper Jaskaranbir Singh.
The first goal would have been comical had it not been a blow to Meghalaya. A cross came in from the right that was very deep. Banshanskhem tried to tip it over the crossbar but instead missed it and the ball went into the net. If he was hurting from that, the Meghalaya custodian compensated for the error by making two important saves in the following few minutes.
Meghalaya were able to quickly bounce back after conceding, however. Deibor and an opponent battled for a high ball, with the former going to ground. The ball was still live and Hardy nipped in, ran it into the box and laid it on for Apbor. This time the winger demonstrated tremendous skill as he threaded the needle, sending the ball through the keeper’s legs.
A few minutes later it was Meghalaya’s turn to take the lead. This time Hardy delivered a free-kick into the box, which went through a bunch of players before Mebankhraw chested it carefully into the net.
The game was destined to be a draw, however, as Johnson equalised for Railways with a beautiful curling shot from just inside the box on the left flank immediately after. Needing only a draw to progress, Railways slowed the game down after that, ensuring that they claimed the point required.
