Lajong play East Bengal in ‘battle to avoid relegation’
Shillong: Shillong Lajong FC will play East Bengal in their last and most important game of the Hero I-League this season at the JN Stadium here on Saturday. The hosts will be engaged in a battle to avoid relegation and will have to lift their game to get the better of the mighty East Bengal who are sniffing a third-place finish.
The season has been a disappointing one for the hosts who finished sixth in 2013-14 but turned out to be a struggling lot this year with even consecutive home games not being enough to turn the tide for them. Come Saturday, the Reds would look to out all the disappointment behind and summon all their might and focus to come out triumphant against a tried and tested foe.
Lajong are in the 9th position with 20 points from 19 games, only a point ahead of Dempo SC, and would have to win or at least better Dempo’s result against Salgaocar to see another season.
It may be mentioned that the battle to avoid the drop revolves around Salgaocar, Sporting, Lajong and Dempo, with each team involved on Saturday. The hosts are coming into this fixture on the back of two consecutive losses and with a defence that is still weak, going up against the Red & Gold brigade will be no easy task.
Both teams have relied on a couple of players to score the bulk of their goals – for the visitors it has been Nigerians Ranti Martins (leading the chart with 17) and Dudu Omaemi (seven), while for Lajong Cornell Glen (13) and Uilliams Souza Silva (seven) have led the way.
However, the home team will be able to field a reasonably strong side with Uilliams coming back from suspension and captain Aiborlang Khongjee back in the squad after missing out for a while due to an injury.
Speaking at a pre match press conference here on Friday, Lajong coach Thangboi Singto said, “Tomorrow we will play the most important match of the season. Tomorrow is the final chance for redemption…we have to be at our best tomorrow and hope that the result favours us.”
East Bengal on the other hand are coming into the match with comparatively less pressure, there only aim being finishing third in the standings.
Ahead of the final match of the season East Bengal coach Eelco Schattorie said, “East Bengal has a good squad but there would be some adjustments that I would have liked to make at the beginning of the season. It is almost impossible to put my magic into the team within three months and try to make them champions.”
All in all a cracker of a contest is on the cards at the JN Stadium on Saturday as the once premier club of the North East fights for its existence in the I-League.