Sikkim United makes the grade

Sikkim United FC qualified for the final stage second division I-League beating Meghalaya club Ar-Hima FC 2-0 in a group-I preliminary league encounter at Silchar on Friday. The win took Sikkim United's tally to 13 points from five matches (in a seven-team group), which was good enough to ensure it one of the two final phase berths available from the group. The other spot will be decided between Aizawl FC of Mizoram (10 points) and Ar-Hima (8), the next two behind United Sikkim in the group standings.

Vasco SC of Goa beat Shimla Youngs 2-1 in a group-III match at Delhi to keep alive its hopes of reaching the final stage. The win helped Vasco tie Langsning FC of Shillong in the second spot with 13 points from six matches.

With Mohammedan Sporting leading the group table with 16 points, the seventh and final round of the group league matches will decide the two qualifiers from the group.

Sesa Football Academy of Goa was held to a 1-1 draw by Aryan Club of Kolkata opening up the possibilities in group-II. Sesa joined Royal Wahingdoh of Meghalaya on top of the group standings with 14 points each from six matches though the latter enjoyed a better goal difference. In another significant match Kalighat MS of Kolkata drubbed Quartz FC of Kerala 9-0 to move to the second position with 13 points, a point behind the leader.

The results: At Silchar (group I): United Sikkim bt Ar-Hima FC 2-0.

At Cuttack (group II): Sesa FA drew with Aryan Club 1-1; Kalighat MS bt Quartz FC 9-0.

At Delhi (group III): Vasco SC bt Shimla Youngs 2-1; Golden Threads bt Luangmual FC 4-3.