SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC will play their last match of the Hero I-League season at the JN Stadium here on Saturday and they could not have a more important fixture as it will be a battle to avoid relegation. What will make this contest all the more difficult is that they will be going up against the mighty East Bengal, who will do them no favours as the Kolkatan team are aiming for a third place finish to their campaign.
East Bengal have fond memories of playing in Shillong, having thrashed SLFC 4-0 the last time the two teams faced off in the Pine City, a result that the Reds would surely like to put behind them.
This season has been a thoroughly disappointing one for Lajong and their fans. Finishing last 2013-14 on a high of sixth place, they have never really got their campaign going this time around and even six straight home games has not been much of an advantage, with SLFC losing three of these, drawing one and winning just two.
The hosts are coming into this fixture on the back of two consecutive losses and with a defence that is still weak, going up against the Red & Gold brigade will be no easy task.
Both teams have relied on a couple of players to score the bulk of their goals – for the visitors it has been Nigerians Ranti Martins (leading the chart with 17) and Dudu Omagbemi (seven), while for Lajong Cornell Glen (13) and Uilliams Souza Silva (seven) have led the way.
