SHILLONG: Upbeat after its stoppage time win over United Sikkim, Shillong Lajong FC lock horns with Salgaocar FC in the Round 20 match of the I-League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa in Goa on Saturday.
The Reds are placed 10th in the points table with 19 points from as many matches while Salgaocar is 11th in the standings with 17 points in its kitty.
Lajong last played the Goan club in a home game in October which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Eugeneson Lyungdoh, who was out in the last game due to suspension, will feature against Salgaocar in the crucial tie. However, captain, Renedy Singh, Chitra and Govin Singh still remain in the injury list. Coach Thangboi Singto expressed confidence on a good show by his boys.
“As our away record against the Goan teams has not been good, we want to change it by performing well against Salgaocar. Hopefully we play to our potential and we are going all out for 3 points,” he said.
“The team looks good at the moment and we can turn things around this time,” he added.
A win is vital for Lajong which will be looking to secure a better position in the league and avoid the ‘danger zone’.
Salgaocar on the other hand would bank upon Francis Fernandes, who scored a brace to stun Pune FC in their last match, to spearhead its attack.
The Goans also have three foreigners in their ranks and coach David Booth is pinning hopes on them to score goals in order to pull the team away from the relegation zone
Salgaocar Technical Director Peter Valles is happy the way his team played against Pune FC after their loss against Sporting Clube de Goa. “It was a big win for us at a time when we are fighting to avoid the relegation. Shillong Lajong also come with a win against United Sikkim and we are expecting a tough fight tomorrow,” he said. (With inputs from PTI)