Lajong take on Pune FC in ‘must-win’ encounter today

SHILLONG: Home favourites Shillong Lajong FC would be desperate for their first victory of the second leg of the I-League when they take on Pune FC in a crucial Round 17 match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

The victory is even more important for Lajong considering the fact that they had two consecutive defeats against Goan giants Churchill Brothers and Dempo FC in their recent outings at home.

The good news for the hosts though is that none of its players is under suspension and the team would field its best for the match. Meanwhile, with the newly signed India striker Sushil Singh confirmed of a place in the playing XI, Seikhabou Tuboi or Boithang Hoakip could be rested on Saturday.

Pune FC, however, would be a tough nut to crack as the visitors are in the middle of an excellent run, unbeaten for 10 matches, which is the best by any team this season. Lajong on the other hand have been winless for four games now and this could well be playing on the hosts’ mind. What could work in the advantage of the Reds is the injury and suspensions to key Pune players.

The visitors begin with an unexpected jerk of losing out on the services of India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua who suffered a knee injury in the last match against Air India and would be out of action for eight weeks. Apart from Jeje, defenders Srikanth Ramu, Caitano Costa and midfielder Lester Fernandez are serving a one-match suspension after receiving cautions in two separate matches.

The team from Pune, however, can take heart from the return of regular central medios Douhou Pierre and Baldeep Singh apart from left wing back Gurjinder Kumar and Anas Edathodika who had missed the last match due to suspension.

Both teams have played thrice in the I-League and Lajong have a one-match win advantage, which came in the first half of March 2010. The other two games ended in draws. Saturday’s game will be the seventh meeting overall.

“We have lost two consecutive home matches against Churchill Brothers and Dempo SC. What we need is to get full points against Pune tomorrow,” Lajong coach Pradhyum Reddy said on Friday.

“The boys are on a high and we are confident of a good show against the visitors,” Reddy said.

While informing that none of the players are under suspension, Reddy also confirmed the inclusion of Sushil Kumar Singh in the playing XI for Saturday match.

When asked about India vice captain P Renedy Singh, he said, “Renedy is not 100 percent match fit so we do not want to risk playing him against Pune.”

Meanwhile, Pune FC Coach Derrick Pereira observed, “Lajong have some good players in their ranks. They recently added a couple of players in striker Sushil Singh and Matthew Mayora apart from signing Rennedy Singh and thus will be a good team.”

Quizzed on the crowd support making a difference in the match, Derrick said, “We’ve played in Kolkata to huge galleries… but yes the crowd will help the players play better. And I am sure we will entertain. And yes we are prepared for the game.”

In fact, in similar match-day atmosphere Lajong has gone down to Churchill Brothers and Dempo SC to provide reason for Pune FC to look at gaining. Incidentally, both losses came on the newly laid turf unlike the past when teams complained about the uneven Shillong pitch.

On Jeje’s absence, Coach Derrick added, “He’s been part of the team since long and needed rest and this lay off period should do him a world good to comeback strongly mentally.”

Pune FC are placed seventh in the points table with 27 points in their kitty while Lajong are placed 10th with only 17 points.

PTI Adds from Margao and Kolkata

In other matches East Bengal rally to hold Churchill Brothers 1-1. The draw takes East Bengal to 34 points from 17 matches. Churchill took their tally to 30 points from 16 matches.

Meanwhile Mohun Bagan beat Pailan Arrows 2-0 to return to victory trail. Captain Barreto nodded home a corner of his countryman from Brazil Hudson Lima in the 64th minute and Raja shot home a pass from S Rahim Nabi fourteen minutes from the end of the match.