Blues still searching for 1st home win
SHILLONG: Still looking for their first victory at home, Rangdajied United FC will clash with Pune FC at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Wednesday at 5:00pm in a 14th round I-League match.
Both teams lost their most recent match, with Pune losing 2-1 to Mumbai FC on Saturday, the same day that Rangdajied were beaten in Shillong by East Bengal by the same margin.
Pune started the season well, even taking the lead in the standings, but have lost some of their sheen recently and are now fourth. However, they could move as high as second depending on the result of Wednesday’s fixture.
Rangdajied, meanwhile, are 12th, still searching for a consistent run of performances that would take them out of the relegation zone.
At one stage the match looked like it would have to be postponed as a general strike had been called in parts of the state, including Shillong, on Wednesday, but with that now out of the way, the match is scheduled to go ahead.
Almost everyone of the host players are fit, including Edmar Figueira, who used to play for Pune between 2009 and 2011 and who has had a long-running injury that has kept him out of a few matches recently.
Pune have managed just six points in their last six outings and will hope to get their season back on track.
These two teams have already met once this season, with the Red Lizards running home to a 1-0 victory in Pune at the end of October.
They have also had experience of playing in Shillong in the current campaign, drawing 0-0 against Shillong Lajong FC on September 29.
In other matches on the day, Mohun Bagan will host Mumbai, Bengaluru FC travel to Mohammedan Sporting and Salgaocar face East Bengal.
