I-League: Churchill Brothers host United SC in relegation battle

United SC have travelled to Goa to take on Churchill Brothers SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao tomorrow evening. This particular match has immense value for the sake of the relegation battle. While Churchill Brothers SC acquired 22 points from the same number of matches, United SC amassed one point more playing as many matches. Whoever would clinch a victory tomorrow would set themselves free from the battle for the wooden spoon, which currently sees Mohammedan Sporting on it with just 21 points till now playing one match more.

United SC has been pretty ordinary in the attacking third, while the game play in the midfield has been quite outstanding, kudos to the Liberian ball player Eric Brown. He had a splendid outing last weekend while they locked horn with city rivals Mohun Bagan with their defence line being pretty vigilant to cancel out his lethal crosses.

Striker Waheed would be featured in the starting eleven invariably; where as Eric Brown would operate a bit low. Biswajit Biswas, the prolific local lad has to shoulder huge workload in the middle half to keep the supply line intact as well as to plunder a smart goal in counter attack to finish off the business. He has been the solitary scorer in the last three matches of the I-League, while his team drew against Mohammedan Sporting with one goal apiece.

“It’s now or never for the entire team. We have to stand up and play for our club, our pride. Definitely the players have faced innumerable hiccups this season, but they have to show their character. We have to earn all the three points to be safe, otherwise it would be another week and tremendous pressure over our shoulders. We have to finish it off here only,” Technical Director Subrata Bhattacharya sounded a bit agitated over the players after their dismal performance infront of the opponent goal though he did not hesitate to keep their morals high before the Super Saturday clash. “Strikers are trying, they all are well capable of scoring and they know it. They have to pull up their socks and put up an outstanding show tomorrow. I have tremendous confidence on their credibility.”

Bello Rasaq, skipper Deepak Mondal, Dhanachandra Singh have put up decent performances time and again to keep opponents in check. Tomorrow they have to be on their toes throughout the 90 minutes to blunt the Red Machines’ attack consisting of Balwant Singh, Thangjam Saran Singh an others. The foreigner attacking midfielders can cause problems for the Purple brigade. Egyptian Abdul Hamid Shabana and T&T playmaker Anthony Wolfe have to be taken care; otherwise these two might cause a real predicament for the Kolkata-based team.

Sangram Mukherjee has been pretty decent under the woodwork against his yesteryear club Mohun Bagan. His return from sustained injury would have been more joyous if the result would be a sweeter one. While addressing the media after today’s practice session, Subrata Bhattacharya commented, “Lalkamal Bhowmick would come back after the suspension. He has shown pluck and mettle time and again to unsettle the opponents. He would start tomorrow undoubtedly.”

The two bouts between these outfits have been shared by either of them. United SC has triumphed over Churchill Brothers SC in the first leg of the I-League, courtesy a brace from Ranty Martins Soleye and a goal from C.K. Vineeth, unfortunately both of them have left the club. While they clashed again in the Federation Cup in which the Red Machines triumphed over the Purple brigade due to a brace by Balwant Singh.

The Purple brigade have seen a roller coaster ride throughout the season. On and off field issues hurt them. A perfect team game against the Red Machines would unsettle the home team for sure. A win would be worth a lot for United SC, who are battling many issues on different fronts.