Shillong, Nov 24: Langsning were given a real challenge but came through 2-0 against feisty Umlyngka on the first day of the new SSA Champions Cup 2025 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here this evening.
The tournament began with Mawkasiang taking on Mylliem Lum in the afternoon and that contest ended 1-1. Both games were in Group A.
Wanshwadame Diengdoh (78’) and Donlad Diengdoh (84’) were the scorers for Langsning. Mawkasiang, meanwhile, scored through Edmon Marngar (23’) before Mylliem Lum’s Eliastar Nongsiej (30’) equalised.
The brainchild of the Shillong Sports Association, the tournament brings together the winners and runners-up of the association’s five men’s football divisions into one fast-paced and thrilling competition. The 10 eligible teams have been divided into two groups of five and will play each other once, with the top two from each group progressing to the semifinals.
Langsning, the Shillong Premier League champions, would have fancied their chances against Umlyngka, who were runners-up in the Third Division. Langsning controlled the midfield in the first half and therefore created almost all of the chances but Babitlang Wahlang, the Umlyngka goalkeeper, was up to the challenge and did not let anything get past him.
The contest was more even in the second half, with Umlyngka also producing some attacking forays but not enough of these yielded a shot on target and Langsning custodian Rajat Paul Lyngdoh was only really tested on a couple of occasions.
Then, in the 77th minute Mecheal Roy Kurbah hit the upright for Langsning and a minute later his team were back in attack and this time Wanshwadame nailed a left-footer after the ball popped in his direction on the edge of the box.
Umlyngka tried to regroup but the second goal pretty much sealed the match. A corner from Dajiedlang Wanshnong bounced uncomfortably in front of Babitlang and he could only scoop the ball up and that presented a chance for Donlad to score.
Langsning almost comically gave away a goal in stoppage time when Rajat Paul went to clear the ball but sent it straight into an Umlyngka player and the rebound nearly went into the net.
Earlier, Mawkasiang, the Fourth Division winners, looked confident as they took to the field with five players on loan (the maximum allowed by the SSA for this tournament) from SPL side Mawlai.
One of these borrowed players, Fairming Suting, contributed to Mawkasiang’s goal with a beautiful cross from the left flank that Edmon just had to tap in from in front of the goal mouth.
However, Mylliem Lum, the Second Division winners, had also strengthened their squad with players on loan and they were threatening Mawkasiang throughout the first half, with four corners in the first 15 minutes. They were unable to convert any of these but Eliastar, one of their original Second Division players, powerfully headed in another corner at the half hour mark to level the score.
The quality shown by the lower division teams today suggests that football fans are in for a real treat, with the competitiveness at a very high level.
Tuesday’s double-header should prove equally engaging as the action in Group B begins. In the first match, at 1pm, First Division champions Nongkseh will take on Second Division runners-up Laitkyrhong. This will be followed by SPL runners-up Shillong Lajong against Third Division victors Mawkriah West at 4:30pm.
