Shillong, Sep 1: Shillong Lajong scored a goal in each half to beat Meghalaya Police 2-0 in the Shillong Premier League 2026 at the SSA Stadium here on Tuesday.
Ricky Kharkongor (39’) and Lalmuansanga (54’) were the scorers in the game that extended Lajong’s unbeaten streak this season to four games while inflicting a first defeat on MLP.
Before today both sides had had very similar starts to the season, with two wins and one draw each. However, the police could not live up to the hopes of their energetic supporters in the stands as their defence was out of their depth when it came to Lajong’s pace.
In the first 10 minutes Freddy Jyrwa and Lalmuansanga had attempts on goal and later on Galbraith Laitmon would send a free-kick just over the crossbar before MLP goalkeeper Eveningstar Bareh was called on to make a save with an outstretched boot to deny Lalmuansanga again. Lajong would claim the lead just two minutes later as Lalmuansanga, after having moved to the left, fed a cross into the box for Ricky to volley home. The latter injured himself in the process and was substituted at half time, however.
In all of the first half MLP only really had one good chance and that saw Aldrin Ramsiej firing a shot wide.
The cops had a good chance early in the second half with a free-kick on the edge of the box but Bikram Chettri sent this high into the stands behind the goal.
The continued pressure on MLP’s back line resulted in a second goal soon after when a back pass mistake handed the ball back to Lajong. Lalmuansanga swerved past the advancing Eveningstar and calmly shepherded the ball across the line.
Lalmuansanga should have had at least two goals later on but scuffed his chances. One was a volley that sat up for him which he miscued and the second came after Bikram conceded a penalty with a foul in the box; Eveningstar guessed correctly and managed to effect a save with a sharp dive to his right.
The action continued right up to the final whistle, with a couple of the best chances seeing Lajong’s Fridison Wanniang collect the crossbar with a powerful shot before Pynshailang L Lyngkhoi missed MLP’s best shout of the second half by heading a Rapborlang Marwein free-kick over the bar. This ensured that Lajong continue to remain the only team not to concede in SPL 2026.
In the standings, SLFC are the first side to reach 10 points and they are on top of the provisional standings. MLP, meanwhile, have dropped from second to fourth and remain on 7 points.
There will be a double-header in SPL 2026 tomorrow as the action goes up a gear. The first match will be at 1pm between Laitkor and Langsning; this match had been postponed due to severe weather from 28 August. Then, there will be a huge test of dominance when Nongkseh take on Mawlai at 5pm.
