AGENCIES, SHILLONG/CHENNAI: Shillong Lajong will face their Mumbai FC in their second home game of Hero I-League at the JLN Stadium in Shillong, on Saturday.
On a high after notching up their first points of the season, the hosts are desperately looking to carry the momentum forward when they lock horns with fifth-placed Mumbai.
The visitors, meanwhile, will also be under certain pressure considering that they come into the away match on the back of a discouraging home defeat against Aizawl FC. Mumbai, who started the season brightly, have now lost two of their four matches on the trot and Saturday’s encounter assumes significance for Santosh Kashyap’s men to ensure that the side does not slip further in the standings.
While Lajong are seventh in the standings with three points from four matches, Mumbai have six points ahead of their fifth tie of the season.
Singot hinted that he might want to retain the same playing XI for Saturday’s encounter.
Meanwhile, Mumbai gaffer Kashyap said Shillong is the toughest place for an away side with the weather coupled with home support adding to the home side’s advantage.
The former Royals Wahingdoh FC coach said he was enjoying every moment of his stay in the pine city which was like his second home.
Kashyap brushed aside talks of pressure on his side stating “you cannot win all the matches.”
He, however, admitted that conversion has been a problem for his side which has not scored in the last two outings.
On Saturday, Lajong will miss out on the services Dan Ignat and Zodingliana while Mumbai will have to manage without Kimkima and Pratesh Shirodkar.
The match is slated to kick-off at 4.30 p.m. and will be streamed live on i-league.org.
Meanwhile, a tough test awaits Chennai City FC as Mizoram-based Aizawl FC, at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, in Chennai.
The home side find themselves at the wrong end of the table, having garnered just a single point from four outings in what is their maiden campaign in the country’s premier football league. On the other hand, Khalid Jamil’s team have been on a roll, winning their last 3 games after drawing the opening encounter against Kingfisher East Bengal.
“Talking about this game, we are playing a solid team under Robin Charles Raja. I saw them play last game against Mohun Bagan. They played well. We’re not taking this game lightly. We will play a normal game,” he said.
“I’ve seen all their matches that were telecast. They played good football. Strong defensively, experienced players. Good players and they have mature senior Indian players. It will not be an easy game,” he further added.
Chennai City coach Robin Charles Raja, on the other hand, admitted that scoring goals have been a concern for his side. “With Khalid’s experience, they (Aizawl) look a threat. We will definitely do well. Goals are a problem and we need them. But we are getting better.”
Chennai City put in a terrific performance in the last game against Mohun Bagan where they stretched them all the way before Sony Norde scored a late winner. Robin Charles Raja felt that his team are getting better after every game.
