I-LEAGUE Media Team

SHILLONG: Royal Wahingdoh FC notched up another three points after beating Sporting Clube de Goa 2-0 in the Round 6 game of the Hero I-League at the JN Stadium here on Sunday.

The Shillong side, with this win, return to the top of the table with 13 points.

Seityasen Singh provided the first goal of the match in the 40th minute, while Kim Song Yong delivered the second in the 57th as Wahingdoh reclaimed top spot in the standings with 13 points from six games.

Heavy rain prior to the start of play made conditions challenging for both teams, but Sporting Clube had more than the weather to overcome. The Goan outfit have scored just once this season so far and are second from bottom in the points table.

Coach Santosh Kashyap had said last week that the RWFC players start matches a little too casually, but this time they were the livelier team in the first half.

However, they still had to wait until deep into the first session for the opening goal, which had a lot to do with Lallawnzuala’s efforts on the left. Bypassing Kim and Bekay Bawar, the diminutive No. 6 chipped the ball for a lurking Seityasen to volley it in.

Changing ends, the Royals then doubled the lead a few minutes before an hour’s play when a cross from the right was met by a diving Kim, whose aim was perfect.

Sporting did not look completely outplayed and had even started the second half the more dangerous looking team. However, they only really had one clear chance, which was denied to them by Wahingdoh goalkeeper Prem Kumar Singh, who punched the ball over the bar after Boimah Karpeh had made an excellent attempt on goal with his powerful right boot.

Mateus Costa, the Flaming Oranje’s coach made all three of his substitutions by the 62nd minute, but the new blood in the ranks could not make any headway against the home team’s defence and Wahingdoh came away the winners.

Hero of the Match: Seityasen Singh (RWFC).

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