Lajong, Mumbai lock horns today

MUMBAI: With the threat of relegation looming large, bottom-of-the-table Mumbai FC will lock horns with Shillong Lajong FC in a penultimate round I-League match at the Cooperage ground here on Sunday. With two games remaining, the Mumbai club has a tally of 13 points from 14 matches in the 9-team league and would be keen to pick up all the three points to lift themselves away from the danger zone. Shillong, on seventh place with 15 points, would also be gunning for a positive result to make their position safe. The hosts have gone without a win since their success against Bengaluru FC in January. Mumbai coach Khalid Jamil described his team’s situation as a make-or-break one. “We are ready for this match. This is our last chance to survive the drop, we have to consider this game as a do-or-die situation,” Jasmil said at the preShillong Lajong FC players during a training session ahead of their I-League clash against Mumbai FC in Mumbai on Saturday. match media briefing. After the International Break, Lajong had done exceptionally well at home wining against Aizawl FC 3- 1 and drawing their next match against Mohun Bagan 2-2. But things didn’t go down too well for Lajong and their “top four” hopes faced a major blow as the team was defeated 5-2 by Sporting Clube De Goa in Goa who are now occupying the 4th place which was previously occupied by Lajong. Another setback the team went through was Brazilian striker, Uilliams Bomfin Souza receiving a double yellow in the game last Sunday. Hence the striker will miss the match on Sunday against Mumbai FC. Lajong will now have only two foreigners in the squad to face Mumbai FC in the form of midfielder Penn Orji and Striker Fabio Pena Henrique. However, Coach Thangboi does not see this to be a problem as the team has been playing with only two foreigners in many matches. “It’s about consistency now. We must not concede silly goals. If we don’t concede we have a great chance to win as we have scored in all the last three matches”, said Shillong Lajong FC Head Coach Thangboi Singto. “We must play not to lose and approach positively like we have done always. A win would be great.” “We need to focus on the job at hand and not worry about what other teams are doing.We will play for a Win”, added the Lajong Head Coach. The Lajong side know what is currently at stake and hence will look to make the most from the game on Sunday. The young squad has played a good game of football this season and suffered a few slips but the team will go all out for a win with a strong determination, confidence and fighting spirit