Lajong face United SC today
SHILLONG: After going without so much as a goal scored in their first three home matches, Shillong Lajong FC will take on a confident United SC in a fifth round I-League match at the JN Stadium, Polo, at 4:30pm on Saturday.
Both teams will look upon the match as an opportunity to return to winning ways.
While SLFC won their first match of the season at Dempo 3-0, United won two games at home before losing and drawing while on the road.
Although he has not been to Shillong before, United’s Dutch coach Eelco Schattorie knows that football games here see large turnouts and he described that as “the way football should be played”.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday, he admitted to being a little wary of Lajong, saying that they will be “unpredictable” given that they want to turn their winless tide at home.
Lajong coach Thangboi Singto has a full squad available to him, except for C Lallawmzuala, who is out with an ankle injury.
“We are definitely looking for a win and the team will give 100 percent,” Singto said.
Asked for his assessment on the way the foreign players have performed in the season so far, especially newcomers Cornell Glen and Uilliams Souza Silva, the SLFC coach said that foreign players would need time to get used to conditions, but as professionals, he expects that they will adapt.
“We have not converted enough of our chances, but I hope that the boys up front will do more of that,” he said.
The Kolkatan side will be without three players and Schattorie himself will not be present in the dugout for Saturday’s game.
The Dutchman received a two-match ban following his team’s loss to Bengaluru FC on October 6 after arguing vigorously with the fourth official, who, as it happens, will be the referee on Saturday.
Schattorie expressed hope that the official, Rahul Dsouza, “keeps it professional”.
United SC are in fourth position in the table with seven points, while Shillong Lajong are down in eighth with four points.