Shillong, Sep 14:Malki SC pulled off another upset, coming from behind to beat Nangkiew Irat SC 3-1 in the 49th match of the OC Blue Shillong Premier League 2021-22 season at Third Ground, Polo, here on Wednesday.
Damehun Syih (17’) gave Nangkiew Irat the lead before Emboklang Nongkhlaw (18’), Sanborlang Marwein (37’) and Marchsterfield Marbaniang (73’) earned Malki the win.
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Fifth-placed Nangkiew Irat had 16 points and seventh-placed Malki just 7. The two sides had met in the first leg on July 19 where Nangkiew were 3-1 victors.
The opening goal came about for Nangkiew Irat after a diagonal ball picked out Syih on the left. He was helped when, tracking back, Malki’s Lucas Syngkli lost his balance and that gave Syih free access into the box where he placed the ball low past Malki reserve goalkeeper Iostar Thabah.
Nangkiew do not score many first half goals (this was only their fifth all season), so perhaps the ease in which they took the lead made them rest on their laurels a little because Malki netted the equaliser immediately.
It was through the young Nongkhlaw, who sauntered up the left flank, that the goal was found, with the No. 10 given plenty of space to move up the pitch. He then spotted that Nangkiew goalie Guidle Syiemlieh was a little off his line and curled the ball up and over the custodian for his maiden goal of the season, which also made him the 70th different person to score this year.
Nangkiew then had a goal disallowed for offside before Marwein took the lead for Malki. He timed his run brilliantly for a through ball and put it past the charging Syiemlieh from the edge of the box.
Nangkiew Irat’s defence was a little guilty of ball watching and they were left standing still by Marwein’s run. The club, who are safe from relegation, were also a little sub-par in terms of passing, clearances and attempts to score and this cost them a chance to take fourth place from Ryntih SC.
