Match Preview: Sporting Clube De Goa vs Shillong Lajong FC
Source: Shillong Lajong FC *
Shillong, April 09 2016 :
After a great comeback by the Reds at home post the International break, the Reds will now gear up to face off Sporting Clube De Goa in the second leg of the Hero I-League encounter at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa at 4:30pm.Lajong have garnered four points from two matches played on the 1st April vs Aizawl FC (winning 3-1) and on the 5th April vs Mohun Bagan (2-2 draw) and have occupied the fourth place in the I-League standings with 15 points.
On speaking to the Lajong gaffer about the teams' recent display on home soil he said, "Good that goals are coming.
We need to keep on scoring and not concede at the back.
Every point is crucial for us now." Meanwhile Sporting Clube De Goa are placed just below Lajong and are on same points (due to head to head Lajong is on 4th) and they have had a decent campaign to the I-League thus far with their players finding the back of the net on a couple of occasions.
Singto said that being on same points with Sporting makes this match more interesting.
"Winning this game will help us in ensuring we are in the right track in staying up." "They are good at home.
So we need to continue playing as we have since the break", he added.
After 13 matches played, Sporting Clube have won thrice, drew six time and lost four times.
They have scored a total of 16 goals in the league so far.
The Goans are coming into this home fixture after drawing their match against Aizawl FC (1-1) on home soil.
Mahmoud Al Amenah scored the equaliser for Sporting in the 36th minute.
The Lajong gaffer further commented on the Sporting Clube De Goa players and said that, "They are Good as a Team with many good players.
Odafa and Mohmoud upfront will be a real threat." Lajong won the first leg encounter in January at home.
Uilliams Bomfin Souza scored the solitary goal to ensure three points for his team.
In the last two matches, the Brazilians have done well for their team with Fabio netting a brace in the North East Derby including 17 year old Samuela adding one more making it 3-1 as the final scoreline.
On the other hand, Uilliams Souza also netted a brace in the match against Mohun Bagan, heading the second goal just seconds before the referee blew the final whistle.
These two players including Yamagata were hit with injuries this season and missed many games.
Lajong had to play with only a single foreigner in the form of Penn Orji on many occasions.
In fact, Penn has played every single minute of all Lajong matches in this season.
Aibor Khongjee who got injured during National duty will remain absent from the team and Penn who had taken over captain duties in the previous two games, will certainly march the team from the front and give the boys the much needed confidence on the pitch to take on Sporting.
Both teams are locked on same points hence the game is immensely crucial and cannot afford a slip.
The winner of the match will rule the fourth spot with 18 points.
Although Sporting will have the home advantage but Lajong are looking to continue playing in the same momentum and display a good game of football.
The match will be live streamed on I-League.org which is I-League's official website at 4:30pm on Sunday from Goa.
* The sender can be contacted at media(AT)shillonglajong(DoT)com .
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