19th Meghalaya Invitation Football

Delhi team drubs Laitumkhrah to enter semi-finals:

Shillong, Nov 26: Combine United from Delhi entered the semi-final of the 19th Meghalaya Invitation Football Championship after defeating Laitumkhrah SC 3-2 in the fourth quarter-final league match here on Monday.

Combine United dominated the match right from the beginning and had majority of the ball possession. Combine United, comprising players from different countries of the Africa, well adapted to the local conditions and played in far superior manner comparing to the way they played in their last match.

Combine United strikers continued to put pressure on Laitumkhrah SC defenders throughout the match.

Their hard work paid off when Kingsley Jonathan scored the first goal in the 29th minute.

A minute later, Jonathan was again in the peak of action as he managed to earn his team a penalty. Midfielder Daniel Umfadu made no mistake and put the ball into the net to take the lead to 2-0.

Even after conceding two goals the spirit of Laitumkhrah SC players was very high as they tried hard to break the defence of the Combine United throughout the first half.

Laitumkhrah luckily managed to reduce the margin before the end of the first half through a penalty taken by its striker Seibor Sana. This goal also ensured an exciting contest in the second half.

Amid huge applause from the big crowd, Laitumkhrah SC started the second half in an electrifying manner. Only after three minutes Laitumkhrah got a penalty after a handball inside the box. Seibor Sana again took the penalty shot and this time also he made no mistake to help Laitumkhrah level the score.

In the 30th minute of the second half, Laitumkhrah striker Jeremy Wahlang, who came in as a substitute, nearly put his team ahead. His strong left footer was, however, brilliantly saved by the United goalkeeper.

United sealed the match in the 83rd minute as Kingsley Jonathan brilliantly set up a goal after overcoming three Laitumkhrah defenders and then crossed the ball to striker Felix Nlemadin who netted it to put his team to a 3-2 victory.

In order to qualify for the semi-finals, Laitumkhrah will have to wait the outcome of the match between Ar Hima and Combine United to be played on Wednesday.

Earlier, the match between Laitumkhrah SC and Ar Hima SC had ended in a goalless draw.

For Ar Hima SC, a draw against Combine United would take them to the semi-finals but for Laitumkhrah SC they would want Combine United to defeat Ar Hima by at least 4-2 margin to get the semi-final berth.

On Tuesday, Langsning SC will take on Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) at 1.45 pm.

Langsning SC has already advanced to the semi-finals while for GTC at least a draw would also see them through to the semi-finals.

Source: The Shillong Times