Rangdajied United FC became the second team to qualify for next year’s I-League by beating already qualified Mohammedan Sporting Club 3-1 in the final phase of the 2nd Division I-League at the Bangalore Stadium on Saturday.

This is the first time that the club from Shillong – also the champions of 2nd Division I-League with 19 points from 10 outings – will take part in the Elite League. Rangdajied have won all their matches in the Second Round of the final phase.

For the record, the closest Rangdajied came to qualifying for the I-League was in 2011 when they had finished fourth in the Final Phase and narrowly missed out from the 2011/12 I-League.

The Meghalaya side got a shot in the arm in the 5th minute of the match itself when Sporting’s Charles Dzisah spooned a Shin Hojun floater into his own net. Restom Khriam doubled the lead at the stroke of half time after being set up brilliantly by Babatunde Ayomide. Shin Hojun sealed the issue with a solo effort in the 85th minute. For Sporting Jerry Zirzingha pulled one back in the 83rd minute.

It was all Rangdajied from the firs whistle. They weaved together some beautiful passes splitting open the Mohammedan rearguard time and again. Skipper Restom Khriam’s low free kick in the 21st minute was tipped away by goalkeeper Somnath Khara. In the second half, goalkeeper Shambhu Mistry pulled off a magnificent save and Shin Hojun missed the target by a whisker.

Sporting, who naturally rested their key players, played with more flair post the breather but their counterparts were rock solid in defence too. Mohammedan ended their campaign with 18 points from 10 matches.

(AIFF Press Release)