Bangalore, April 27 (IANS) Rangdajied United FC became the second team to qualify for next year's I-League by beating already qualified Mohammedan Sporting 3-1 in the final phase of the 2nd Division League match here at the Bangalore Stadium Saturday.
This is the first time that the club from Shillong - also the champions of 2nd Division League with 19 points from 10 outings - will take part in the top tier. 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 finished fourth in the final phase and narrowly missed out.
The Meghalaya side got a shot in the arm in the fifth 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 win with a solo effort in the 85th minute. For Sporting Jerry Zirzingha pulled one back in the 83rd minute.
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.