Shillong, Nov 14: Shillong Lajong FC registered the biggest win ever in the SSA Champions Cup with a 9-0 demolition job against Sei La Sap FCC in Group B at the SSA Stadium here today.
Lalmuansanga (4′, 50′, 51′) scored the first hat-trick of the season, with his teammates Colinsalmon Lyngdoh (34′), Iohborlang L Lyngkhoi (42′), Emanbha Marbaniang (46′), Deibormame Tongper (81′) and Fridison Wanniang (83′) adding one apiece. There was also a 12th minute own goal.
Later Mawlai SC also tasted victory in Group A but their 3-1 win over Mawpdang SC was nowhere near as one-sided. Wadshwa Latoo (13′, 52′) produced a brace and Lovingstar Suting (90’+5) one goal for Mawlai, with Mawpdang scoring through Donlad Diengdoh (78′).
Both matches were between teams from the Shillong Premier League (Mawlai champions, Lajong runners-up) and Fourth Division (Mawpdang champions, Sei La Sap runners-up) and it was always going to be a tough outing for the latter two.
Just how tough was demonstrated clearly for Sei La Sap, who conceded four goals in the first half and another five in the second. The 9-0 result was even greater than the 8-0 win that Lajong had experienced over Mawlynrei in the Champions Cup 2025, which had previously been the biggest margin of victory in the tournament.
Lalmuansanga bagged his first with a left-footer early on in proceedings and Lajong were a little lucky to get their second as a ball into the area took a heavy deflection off Sei La Sap’s Nathaniel Rani before going into the net. Colin headed on target for Lajong’s third and Iohborlang sent in the fourth via a free-kick before half time.
Players of Sei La Sap, a new football academy based in Upper Shillong, tried to control the ball from the back rather than just play long balls but they lacked the composure and skill to pull this off against their SPL opponents. That would result in them getting hemmed in and when mistakes came, as they invariably did, Lajong would pounce, though not all these opportunities were converted.
SLFC turned their huge advantage into a rout in the second half. Emanbha tapped in under a minute from the restart and then came Lalmuansanga’s next two goals in double quick time.
Things settled down a little after that before the final two goals were scored in the last 10 minutes by Deibormame and Fridison, both of whom were brought on as substitutes.
Later, Mawlai stamped their authority on Group A by winning their fixture against Mawpdang. They scored first with Wadshwa heading in the ball after it bobbled around following a Damanbhalang Chyne set-piece.
Mawpdang custodian Embhahlang Khongnoh made a couple of important saves after that, first to deny Ricky Chyne before reacting sharply to keep out a Samlang Rympei header. However, he could not prevent Wadshwa from getting his second, which arrived via a corner early in the second half. The ball was first headed by Arkibor Makhroh, blocked by Embhahlang but Wadshwa controlled the rebound with his left boot before scoring with his right.
There were times that Mawpdang looked like penetrating their opponents’ defence, such as when Banaijingshai Kharkongor blasted one into the stands, and they finally clawed one back when Donlad placed a through ball to the left of Mawlai goalkeeper Lambhamiki Lamare. That fired up the Mawpdang fans, of which there were plenty, and may have made Mawlai a little nervous, though they were ultimately able to seal a convincing win when Lovingstar fired in the last goal just before the referee blew the final whistle.
At the end of two rounds, Mawlai lead Group A with 6 points, with Mawpat SC second on 4. In Group B Lajong also have 6 points, while there are three teams on 3 points each – Mawkhar SC, Sohryngkham SC and Sei La Sap.
On Monday, in Group A, Mawpat will face Lamlynti FC at 11am followed by Mawkhar against Sei La Sap at 2:30pm in Group B.
