SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC will play host to I-League defending champions, Minerva Punjab FC on Friday at the JN Stadium in Shillong at 5PM in the Hero I-League 2018-19 season.
The tickets for the match will be available at The Mobile Centre Police Bazar and SSA Counter in Polo Ground.
The Reds are back home after playing three consecutive away matches against Indian Arrows, Gokulam Kerala and Churchill Brothers Goa. The outcome from these matches was disappointing as they failed to collect points. Prangki Buam, Skipper Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Samuel Kynshi found the back of the net in the away matches while at home Mahesh Singh and Rakesh Pradhan were on the scoresheet.
Shillong Lajong started the I-League campaign with one win and one loss at home, and Coach Alison Kharsyntiew wants the team to play good attacking football and convert the chances created in front of goal on Friday against Minerva Punjab.Speaking ahead of the match Coach Alison said, “Friday’s game will be a different”.
”When asked about the team’s lack of physicality in comparison to other teams due to unavailability of foreigners; the coach said, “For that we just have to move the ball fast, the more we hold on to the ball it gives the opposition more chance to press and take advantage of their physical advantage.”
On the other hand, captain Samuel Lalmuanpuia talked about the club’s away form and said, “Compared to last season, even though we are without foreigners we are performing very good. In the ground, there are no young boys. You just have to fight for every ball.” “Lions never always sleep, at some point, they will wake up. Like every other good club, we too will bounce back and hopefully, it will be on Friday’s game. If we manage to get three points, confidence will be back within the boys and we will start getting the results”, he then added.
The away team arrived in Shillong on Tuesday after playing the game against Gokulam. The Punjab side lost this game by one goal.
In their other matches, Minerva Punjab defeated Aizawl FC by 2-1, drew against Churchill Brothers 0-0 and lost to newcomers, Real Kashmir FC by one goal. So far, Lancine Toure scored two goals for Minerva Punjab.
