Shillong, Oct 7: Langsning powered to a 5-0 whitewash of Nangkiew Irat in their Shillong Premier League 2025 match at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here this evening.
Wanshwadame Diengdoh (40’, 52’), Manbhalang Nongmin (84’) and Donlad Diengdoh (90’, 90’+1) were the scorers in what proved to be a huge blow to Nangkiew Irat’s hopes of the SPL title.
Langsning moved up to third position with this win, now on 14 points, displacing Nangkiew Irat, who are now in fourth on 13. Nangkiew Irat were chasing victory, which would have given them the lead in the standings (above Shillong Lajong and Mawlai, who both have 15 points) but, despite an intense first half, their spirits flagged in the second and they were completely outplayed.
The level of intensity could be gauged by the number of players who went in the book, with referee Pynskhemhame Mawthoh flashing the yellow card five times in the first half alone.
Nangkiew Irat had a couple of look-ins in the first half, with Khangmiki Pale and Himanshu Patil both testing Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh, but to no avail.
Then a diagonal ball at the other end was sent in looking for Wanshwadame and Nangkiew Irat goalie Surjay Kumar Pariyar came off his line to try and cut him off. However, the ball got past him and Wanshwadame had a decision to make – to pass or take a shot from a tight angle. He chose the latter and found the mark despite a defender having tracked back to the goal mouth.
Into the second half, Wanshwadame, this time on the right, had little in the way of space but seemed to love threading the needle – he delivered another accurate shot to double his team’s lead. These were his first goals of the season and came in phenomenal style.
Three more goals were added in the last 10 minutes of the game. Manbhalang’s goal came through a long-range effort and Surjay was substituted off in place of Akash Thapa immediately after. That did not stem the tide as Donlad, himself a late substitute, struck twice within seconds, the first time by swerving past Akash when fed a through ball and then with a powerful header from a cross.
Other noteworthy performances from Langsning included those of keeper Rajat Paul and defender Lukas Syngkli. They were kept busy for the first 70 minutes but were up to the mark throughout.
Even when 2-0 up Langsning kept pressing time and again, while Nangkiew Irat faded away towards the end. This was the first time in seven games this season that they have failed to score at least a goal.
Tomorrow will feature an interesting contest but at the other end of the table in the relegation zone when ninth-placed Mylliem take on tenth-placed Nongrim Hills at 4:30pm.
