Meghalaya won the Sub-junior National Football Championship 2019-20 after defeating Arunachal Pradesh 3-0 at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal on Tuesday.
According to a match report, Samcharphrang Lato opened the scorecard for Meghalaya in 52nd minute of the final match before Samlang Rympei and Teibok Nongrum who struck during the added time to seal the match.
Incidentally, Arunachal Pradesh lost the final in the penalty shootout to Odisha last season before going down to Meghalaya this time.
Shillong Lajong FC while congratulating the home team tweeted: “Congratulations Meghalaya for winning the Sub-junior National Football Championship after defeating Arunachal Pradesh by 3-0 in the Final played today in Kalyani, West Bengal.”
Congratulations ? Meghalaya for winning the Sub-junior National Football Championship ? after defeating Arunachal Pradesh by 3-0 in the Final played today in Kalyani, West Bengal.
Well done lads ? pic.twitter.com/TUi2hqfzjX
— Shillong Lajong FC (@lajongfc) December 3, 2019
Meghalaya started on the front foot, as the controlled the flow of the game, constantly looking to create opportunities.
Also read: Meghalaya to lock horns with Arunachal in football tourney finale
Meghalaya captain Colinsalmon Lyngdoh looked lively upfront, often dropping deep, to help his side gain majority in the middle of the park and create more chances.
On the other hand, Arunachal, looked to counter through right-winger Damli Bomnyo.
Bomnyo had their first real chance of the match as he cut in from the right and unleashed a left-footer.
Bomnyo’s shot, however, whizzed past the near post.
Meghalaya had their first real chance of the game around the hour mark when Baniatyllilang Mawkhiew was played through on goal via an aerial through ball.
The midfielder tried to outwit the keeper but Arunachal custodian Roshan Thapa got down well to save it, says the AIFF Media report.
In the second half of the game, the Arunachal players came out with more impetus and that opened things up for Meghalaya to break the deadlock.
A goalmouth melee gave Samcharphrang Lato the perfect chance to bang it into the back of the net.
Jacky Rapung, around the hour mark, had the perfect opportunity to put Arunachal boys back in the game as he latched onto a rebound inside the 6-yard-box.
His shot though from an angle, lacked sting, as Meghalaya keeper Bapynsuklang Mawlong smothered it.
In the closing stages, Meghalaya had two good opportunities to seal the win.
With around 15 minutes to go, Samlang Rympei rounded the keeper, but his shot was heroically cleared off the line.
As the game moved into the last 10 minutes, substitute Wallambok Shangpliang again had an open goal, but his shot was also cleared.
At the death, Samlang Rympei and Teibok Nongrum scored two goals deep in added time which confirmed the fate of the match.
The Meghalaya team reached the final of the Sub-Junior National Football Championship after defeating Bengal 3-1 in Kalyani in West Bengal on Sunday.
The sub-junior football team of Arunachal Pradesh entered the finals of the ongoing Hero Sub-Jr National Football Championship-2019 at Kalyani in West Bengal.
The Arunachal Pradesh team entered the final of the ongoing championship after defeating Kerala by 2 goals to nil in the second semifinal match.