Minoo Fernandes|NT
Sports Reporter
VASCO
Scoring once in each half, Meghalaya registered a 2-0 win against Services in the Santosh Trophy tournament played at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Saturday.
With this win, Meghalaya has collected three points, earlier having lost against Goa and Chandigarh. Services too have three points in hand, having won against Chandigarh and lost to Bengal and Meghalaya, but their campaign is over as three points are not sufficient for them to enter the semis at this stage.
Meghalaya scored through medio Dibinroy Nongspung(8th minute) and defender Bisharlang Kharrumnid(75th minute).
Meghalaya scored first when striker Enestar Malngiang worked his way down the middle and sent a pass to Dibinroy Nongspung in the box, who in turn took a shot that beat Services keeper Vishnu VK.
Orchestrating play with timely passes, Meghalaya then roamed freely and threatened the Services goal time and again.
Services midfielder Britto M. and striker Arjun Tudu had a chance each within the first quarter of the match to equalise, but they lacked accuracy.
Services started falling into the rhythm slowly and in the 25th minute, medio Francis Zountlunga sent in an 18 yard shot, which hit the right post and came back into play, scaring Meghalaya keeper Kenio Lyngkhoi.
Services put up everything they could to get the equaliser but could not score the much needed goal. Francis and Anoop Pauly played their role well, but strikers Arjun Tudu and RK Lelison could not get their act together.
A few minutes before the break, Britto PM sent in a cross to Arjun Tudu in the box and the striker sent in a grounder which missed the mark.
Playing a pressing game in the second session, Services seemed to be bouncing back. They looked intimidating but nothing came up in terms of goals.
Meghalaya put up a stiff resistance even though their defense seemed to crack under pressure. Defenders like Bisharlang Kharumnuid and company had a busy time in containing the Services strikers, who moved upfront to help their colleagues find the equaliser.
Meghalaya caught the Services defense by surprise in the 75th minute to bolster their lead and made the issue safe in their favour as a long cross from the left by substitute Bikyson Kharkongor went to ideally placed Bisharlang Kharrumnuid ,whose shot found the back of the nets to deceive Serivices keeper Vishnu VK