Shillong, Oct 10: The Shillong Premier League (SPL) 2026 came to an end on Saturday with Shillong Lajong securing the runners-up position and Nongkseh and Langsning settling for a share of third place after a 1-1 draw in the final matchday’s action.
Mawlai, who secured the title on Wednesday, were present at the closing ceremony to lift the trophy for the third time. The final two matches of the season determined the remaining positions in the standings, bringing an end to one of the most competitive editions of the league in recent years.
Shillong Lajong defeated Rangdajied United 3-0 in the afternoon fixture to finish second. After a goalless first half, Rimankhraw Kharumnuid broke the deadlock in the 49th minute before Banlamkupar Rynjah doubled the lead in the 74th minute. Deibormame Tongper converted a penalty in stoppage time (90+3) to complete the victory over Rangdajied, who finished seventh.
The evening fixture under the floodlights saw Nongkseh and Langsning play out a 1-1 draw in a closely contested encounter. Both sides enjoyed strong support from the stands, and the match carried the intensity of a final despite neither team being in contention for the title.
Langsning took the lead in the 11th minute when Samuel Phawa converted a cross from Syed Ahmed, which had slipped past Nongkseh defender Mebankhraw Wahlang. Nongkseh drew level in first-half stoppage time when Wallambok Dkhar inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a dangerous cross.
With the league concluded, the top four teams have secured their routes into the next stage of the season. Champions Mawlai and runners-up Shillong Lajong will advance directly to the semifinals of the SSA Super Cup. Third-placed Nongkseh and fourth-placed Langsning will compete in the playoffs next week against fifth-placed Meghalaya Police and sixth-placed Sawmer to determine the remaining semifinalists.
Mawlai and Shillong Lajong will also feature in the SSA Champions Cup, scheduled to begin in November.
As champions, Mawlai received prize money of Rs 6 lakh, while Shillong Lajong collected Rs 3 lakh for finishing second. The closing ceremony was attended by SSA President and MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh, senior officials of the association, Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling and Meghalaya senior men’s team coach Stanley Rozario.
The SSA’s prize money is among the highest offered in district-level football leagues in Meghalaya, with financial support from the state government contributing to the competition’s scale.
The promotion of Nongkseh and Meghalaya Police added further depth to this year’s league, with several teams remaining in contention for the title deep into the season. The competitive nature of the SPL 2026 is expected to carry into the upcoming Super Cup and Champions Cup competitions.
