Shillong: Shillong Lajong FC will play their third away game in the Hero I-League 2016/17 season when they face Aizawl FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl on Tuesday.
It was a goalless draw when Aizawl hosted Lajong in the last season, but in the second leg encounter, Lajong earned three points winning 3-1 at home.
The Reds will have a lot at stake on Tuesday as they are coming into the match after losing against Bengaluru FC 3-0 and Mohun Bagan 2-0.
Their rivals, meanwhile, drew against East Bengal in the first match and won against Minerva FC.
SLFC coach Thangboi Singto made two changes to the line up in the last game. He brought on Cameroonian striker Dicka to the starting eleven and included Zodingliana in central midfield.
Although Singto’s side played a competitive game against the Kolkata outfit, their conversions of chances into goals was not on point and the defence failed to stop Mariners frontman, Darryl Duffy. The young team dominated possession but the attempts on goal were not clinical enough.
However, it was evident in the last match that Singto’s boys combined well with each other compared to the first outing against defending champions Bengaluru.
Here on, the gaffer would expect his strike force to give a much higher contribution and also be on target. Lajong has to pick up the away point in order to better their standings on the table before they come back to Shillong to play five back to back home matches.
Speaking about Tuesday’s game, Singto said, “Aizawl FC has a very experienced coach who knows the I-League in and out. They are a strong team at home and it will be a tough game on Tuesday.”
“We need good solid defending and also have to utilise the chances we create at goal. The aim is to get points on board, a win is a must,” he added.
Aizawl FC’s new coach Khalid Jamil has rebuilt the squad with fresh faces and kept himself busy during the transfer window. He brought on Albino Gomes as the new first choice goalkeeper, Lalruatthara, Ashutosh Mehta, Jayesh Rane, Nigerian defender -Kingsley and former Syrian international -Mahmoud Amnah.
The new Aizawl FC manager has previously stated that his main objective is to keep his team away from the relegation zone. In the pre-match press conference held in Aizawl on Monday he said, “Shillong Lajong is a good opponent, it will be a tough game. We will try our best to earn three points.”
The game will kick off at 1:30pm with a live telecast on Ten 2.
