Shillong, Oct 13: Shillong Lajong are just one step away from defending their Shillong Premier League title after trouncing Nongrim Hills 5-0 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here this evening.
Wilbert Marbaniang (7’), Deibormame Tongper (45’+3), Ricky Kharkongor (57’, 68’) and Banlamkupar Rynjah (60’) all scored as Lajong skipped to an easy win against the bottom team in SPL 2025.
Victory took Lajong to 18 points after eight matches, 1 point ahead of Langsning. Nongrim Hills stay at the bottom with just 1 point from their eight outings.
Wilbert headed in a corner for the first goal early on but SLFC were guilty of missing a few rather mundane chances after that from close range. Nongrim Hills, on the other hand, had few real opportunities, with Bameaijingmut Majaw’s long-range attempt the closest they came in the first half an hour.
However, they were almost gifted a goal when Lajong goalkeeper Wanteilang Malngiang spilled a corner kick but a Lajong defender managed to put the ball out for a corner.
Nongrim Hills’ keeper Kitboklang Marbaniang made a decent diving save to deny Ricky in stoppage time but soon after, and just before the whistle, a high ball was lobbed by SLFC towards goal. Kitboklang palmed it onto the bar and it bounced back and Deibormame finished it off to give Lajong a 2-0 lead going into the break.
There was no way back for Nongrim Hills, with Ricky scoring twice in the second half, first on the run charging into the box from the left and then with a long-range zinger. In between Banlamkupar bagged another goal for his team.
Tomorrow’s match will feature Malki against Langsning at 4:30pm. This will be Langsning’s last match of the SPL 2025, while Malki will have one more to play.
