SHILLONG, MAR 8: Lawsohtun SC and Eastern Ri-Bhoi FC booked their places in the semifinals of the Sentinels Football
Tournament, organised by Assam Rifles with support of the Meghalaya Football Association, by winning close quarterfinal contests.
Lawsohtun SC held on to a tenuous lead for a 2-1 victory over Pohkseh SC in the morning match in what was an engaging last-eight contest, while Eastern Ri-Bhoi beat Nongrim Hills SC with a goal in either half.
Kitbok Pale, Lawsohtun’s most dangerous player up front, put his side into the lead in the 13th minute and then got his brace a few minutes before the half time whistle.
Pohkseh might have beaten Byndihati SC in their first match of the tournament 5-0, but they found the going much tougher against Lawsohtun, even with the likes of Bansharai Sunn and Bickyson Kharkongor in the first XI, though they had numerous chances that went begging.
However, Pohkseh, also known as Eastern Pirates, managed to steal their way back into contention after being awarded a penalty for an offence committed by the opposition in the box. Substitute Henry Marboh stepped up and made it 2-1.
The last few minutes saw a desperate attempt by both sides to score – for Lawsohtun another goal would have given them more breathing space, while an equaliser for Pohkseh would have taken the match into penalties.
With what could have been his hat-trick, Pale made a brilliantly timed run up the left and into the box, but his shot on goal was neatly blocked by goalkeeper Widenstar Kharsati. Pohkseh then countered and a shot by Kharkongor from close range almost made it into the net but for the sharp reactions of a defender.
Meanwhile, Geremy Passah, Nongrim Hills’ goalie came up with a terrific leaping save in just the third minute to deny Victor Shadap an early goal, but the latter could not be stopped in the 20th minute when he secured the equaliser with a long distance smash into the top left corner that Passah could do nothing about.
The Ri-Bhoi team, now the only one left in the competition outside of East Khasi Hills, had more control in the midfield, but there were still openings for Nongrim Hills’ Bisharlang Mawthoh and Alem Khongwir, who ended up scuffing their first half chances.
Shadap returned in the second half to make things a little safer for his side, doubling the score in the 60th minute to the delight of the fans, but the boys in yellow kept up the pressure until the final whistle, with Dennis Mawphniang heading the ball just over the crossbar following a foul on Khongwir.
Lawsohtun and Eastern Ri-Bhoi will now meet in the second semifinal on March 10 at 2:30pm, following the first last-four fixture between Madanriting SC and Smit SC at 11:00am on the same day.-By Our Reporter
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