Shillong, Oct 14: Meghalaya Police produced a spirited performance to defeat Langsning 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the second playoff of the SSA Super Cup 2026 at the SSA Stadium here on Wednesday.
Langsning took the lead through Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem in the 17th minute, but Rapborlang Marwein equalised for Meghalaya Police in the 67th minute. Neither side could find a winner during the remainder of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout.
Both teams converted their first three penalties before the shootout took a dramatic turn. Meghalaya Police’s Chesterfield Nongdhar struck the crossbar, while Langsning’s Donlad Diengdoh also hit the woodwork with his subsequent attempt. Meghalaya Police subsequently scored from their next two penalties, while Langsning converted one. With the shootout still in the balance, Mangkara Sun stepped up to take Langsning’s sixth penalty, but goalkeeper Eveningstar Bareh saved his effort to secure a 5-4 shootout victory for Meghalaya Police.
Meghalaya Police will now face Shillong Lajong in the second semifinal on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm.
Langsning dominated much of the first half and took the lead when Mebanshngain Kurkalang flicked a header into the path of Wadajied, who finished with a powerful, low right-footed shot in the 17th minute.
Eveningstar kept Meghalaya Police in the contest with a series of important saves. He dived to his left to deny Samuel L Kynshi in the 20th minute and subsequently blocked a long-range effort from Mebanshngain. Samuel threatened again in the 39th minute, but his deflected attempt went wide.
Meghalaya Police returned with greater urgency after the break, encouraged by strong support from their followers. Everestarly Rynjah, the team’s leading scorer in the Shillong Premier League (SPL) 2026, came close to an equaliser around the hour mark, but Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh collected his effort.
The equaliser arrived in the 67th minute when Rapborlang found space and placed a right-footed shot beyond Rajat Paul’s reach to bring Meghalaya Police back on level terms.
Langsning subsequently threatened through several dangerous free-kicks taken by Atlanson Kharmaw. In the 86th minute, Donlad directed a header on target, but Eveningstar made the save before a defender cleared the danger. During stoppage time, Atlanson struck the woodwork with another set-piece. Mecheal Roy Kurbah put the rebound into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Meghalaya Police had the better opportunities in extra time but failed to convert them. One of their best chances came from a Pynche Ia-i Tyngkan free-kick, which narrowly failed to curl around the defensive wall.
The result follows another closely contested playoff on Tuesday, when Nongkseh came from behind twice to beat Sawmer 4-2, setting up an exciting start to the knockout competition.
The SSA Super Cup features the top six teams from the Shillong Premier League 2026 in a knockout format. Champions Mawlai and runners-up Shillong Lajong received direct entry to the semifinals.
The first semifinal will see Mawlai take on Nongkseh on Friday, followed by Shillong Lajong against Meghalaya Police on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 5pm at the SSA Stadium.
