Shillong: After picking up three points at Minerva’s den, Thangboi Singto’s Reds get ready for yet another away clash, this time against Churchill Brothers Sports Club at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Sunday.
Shillong Lajong was victorious in their last outing in Punjab winning 2-1 with goals from Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Fabio Pena Henrique. Reds winger Bipin Singh was instrumental in creating those two chances for his team mates while skipper Nim Dorjee Tamang’s heroic efforts in defence were also recognised and he was named Hero of the Match in the I-League on Tuesday.
In the last five games, Lajong have performed comparatively well with two wins, two losses and one draw. The last two wins were away in Chennai 4-1 and in Punjab 2-1. The two losses were at home against DSK Shivajians and East Bengal with the same score line 2-1. The match they drew 1-1 was against East Bengal in Siliguri.
The last time Lajong and Churchill met was on February 5 with the Reds winning the match by a solitary goal courtesy striker Aser Dipanda Dicka.
Dicka remains the top scorer in the I-League with nine goals. Fabio has also had a great impact on Lajong’s good run of performances this season, while Yuta Kinowaki has played a very crucial role in central midfield and going defensive when the need arises.
The Lajong line-up this season, which is dominated by U-22 youngsters from the Academy, have been brilliant and are also providing goals, assists and doing well in defence too.
Thangboi Singto is hoping the team gives another good performance in their away match against Churchill on Sunday by taking the positives from the away game in Punjab.
He said, “We are hopeful we will do well against Churchill but it won’t be an easy game.”
“After Derrick Pereira took over Churchill Brothers they have done exceptionally well. We need to play good football throughout the game and take maximum points from this fixture which will not be easy at all, but we will definitely give our best.” Churchill Brothers defeated East Bengal in their last encounter 2-1 which also saw the latter drop from first to second position in the standings.
In their last five games, Churchill have won thrice, while losing and drawing once. They drew 1-1 with Chennai, lost the next game at home in a high scoring encounter 4-5 against Minerva Punjab but won the next three games including two at home 3-0 versus DSK, 2-1 against Mohun Bagan and 2-1 at East Bengal.
The Red Machines won their first game under their newly appointed coach Derrick Perreira against his former club, DSK Shivajians with a 3-0 win. Anthony Wolfe and Ansumana Kromah have been solid on the field and have scored several goals for their team.
Churchill are now in 6th position with 15 points from 13 matches. They have scored 17 goals so far and Lajong will have to perform at their very best to secure a victory against a club they have only ever beaten once in Goa.
The match will be broadcast live on Ten 2 at 4:35pm.
