SHILLONG: Although they did not play on Saturday, it was a good day for Rangdajied United FC as their nearest rivals Churchill Brothers and Mohammedan Sporting were halted to an extent in their respective matches of the I-League.
While 12th-placed Churchill lost to Bengaluru FC 3-0, Mohammedan Sporting drew 0-0 with Mohun Bagan.
This means that a victory for bottom club Rangdajied on Sunday against United SC will move the Blues up to 11th spot.
The match will be held at the JN Stadium, Polo, at 5:00pm.
After winning their last match against League leaders Bengaluru 3-2, a reinvigorated RUFC will hope to gain another three points from the visiting Kolkatan side.
The Blues have recently taken on a new coach in Hering Shangpliang and striker Ranti Martins and their first game for their new team against BFC could not have gone better.
Martins was signed from United at the end of the transfer window and the Nigerian, who with the Kolkatans since 2012, admitted that facing his former team will be an emotional occasion.
RUFC have yet to string two victories in a row together, but the bottom-placed club desperately need to do so on Sunday. United, for their part, have not won an I-League match in eight appearances (since November when they beat Dempo 2-1 away).
Their two games in 2014 have both ended in draws, including their last home fixture to Shillong Lajong FC, where they were leading by two goals before the visitors fought back.
This will be one of the Blues’ last four home games and they need to make every one count. Their performed well up front against Bengaluru but, they were a little careless in letting in two goals in quick succession.
After that game, Shangpliang noted that there were still areas the team needed to improve in and with a week’s rest he will want his boys to give the fans something more to cheer about.
