Meghalaya beat Services in Santosh Trophy

VASCO:

Meghalaya

scored a goal in each half to get the better of

Services

2-0 in the final round of the Group A league match of the Santosh Trophy football tournament.

Meghalaya's goals were scored by

Dibinroy Nongspung

(8th minute) and Bisharalng Kharumnuid (76th).

With Goa splitting points against Chandigarh,

West Bengal

, who have seven points, are through to the semi-finals from Group A.

The second place from Group A will be decided between Goa, Services and Meghalaya when they play their last matches.

Meghalaya, who opened their account with Saturday's win, have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals, having garnered three points from as many matches.

Services, the defending champions who needed a win to stay in contention for a berth in the semi-finals, made their intentions clear from the start as they piled pressure on the rival citadel with steady flow of passes but it was Meghalaya who took the lead in the eighth minute from a counter attack.

Hardworking Enestar Malngaing's cross from the left flank found Dibinroy Nongspung inside the box. He controlled the ball before essaying a stiff grounder to find the far corner of the net.

Stung by the reverse, Services mounted pressure on the rival citadel with repeated forays but failed to find the equaliser on three occasions.

First Francis Zoutlunga was unlucky in the 28th minute when his shot from inside the box hit the post. Eight minutes later, Services Arjun Tudu missed the target narrowly from a counter attack.

In the last quarter of the first half, Services were all over the rival in search of the equaliser but Britto PM's header from close range went just wide.

Services continued in the same way after the break but goals continued to elude them.

Meghalaya, who were seen defending their citadel, came with counter moves and increased the lead in the 76th minute.

Substitute Bikyson Mharkongor laid a forward pass which rival defender hesitated to intercept thinking it was an off side and Bisharlang Kharumnuid pounced on the loose ball and shot home to give Meghalaya their first win.