Shillong, Aug 18: Meghalaya Police pulled off the first major upset of the Shillong Premier League (SPL) 2026 season, defeating defending champions Langsning 2-1 at the SSA Stadium on Tuesday.
Rapborlang Marwein put Meghalaya Police ahead just before half-time before setting up Aldrin Ramsiej for the decisive second goal in the 89th minute. Langsning substitute Rohan Manar pulled one back in stoppage time, but the champions could not find an equaliser as MLP held on for all three points.
Both teams made changes to their starting line-ups after a lengthy break in the league. Meghalaya Police brought in Niawkorlang Kyndiah and Balmingstar Lyngkhoi, while Langsning made four changes, with Nister Roy Suting, Richie Kharbani, Chusrang Sangma and Samuel Phawa coming into the starting XI.
Langsning, who had been knocked out of the Durand Cup just days earlier, looked cautious in the opening half and struggled to create clear opportunities. Richie Kharbani came closest, first heading wide in the 32nd minute before being denied by Meghalaya Police goalkeeper Eveningstar Bareh a minute later.
Meghalaya Police were the more adventurous side and were rewarded in the 44th minute.
A Rapborlang free-kick from the left flank curled into the Langsning penalty area and went straight into the net after goalkeeper Nister Roy Suting was unable to see the ball clearly as a teammate attempted to clear it.
Rather than sit back and protect their advantage, Meghalaya Police continued to look for a second goal after the restart.
Rapborlang almost doubled the lead in the 48th minute after combining with Everestarly Rynjah, who flicked the ball into his path. However, Rapborlang went too deep on the right and a Langsning defender recovered in time to block his attempt.
Langsning struggled to get their key attacking players into the game. Syed Ahmed, who scored four goals during the club’s Durand Cup campaign, was largely kept quiet, although he did force Eveningstar into a save with a second-half header.
Both sides missed opportunities as the match opened up. Mebanshngain Kurkalang rose to meet a Kyrmenskhem Mukhim cross but headed over, while Meghalaya Police’s Pynshaidor Nongrang squandered a good opportunity after being gifted possession by the Langsning defence.
The second goal finally arrived in the 89th minute.
Rapborlang broke forward with three Langsning defenders around him before spotting Aldrin Ramsiej making an unmarked run on the left. He released his teammate, who calmly finished past Nister to make it 2-0.
Langsning responded almost immediately, with Rohan Manar finding the bottom corner in the third minute of stoppage time to give the defending champions a glimmer of hope.
However, Meghalaya Police held firm through the remaining minutes to secure their first win of the campaign.
The result takes Meghalaya Police to four points from two matches and puts them at the top of the SPL standings. They had opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Rangdajied United.
Langsning remain on three points from two matches, having beaten Sawmer 1-0 in the opening game of their title defence.
The SPL continues on Wednesday when Nangkiew Irat take on Nongkseh at the SSA Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm. Both sides will be looking to bounce back after contrasting results in their opening fixtures, with Nongkseh having defeated Mylliem 1-0, while Nangkiew Irat lost 1-0 to Shillong Lajong.
