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Shillong Lajong FC will take on record champions Mohun Bagan AC in a 35th Federation Cup encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Cochin at 4.35pm IST tomorrow afternoon. The match will be telecast live on TenAction.
This will be Lajong FC’s second match in Group C after the commanding 4-0 win against Salgaocar FC in their opening fixture. Shillong Lajong have a positive frame of mind going into the match with the Kolkata giants who have won the cup a staggering 13 times. Shillong Lajong FC are at the top of Group C with 3 points, the same as Mohun Bagan who are second place only by an inferior goal difference. Both teams will be looking for another three points and cement their place at the top and also ensure their passage through to the semifinals.
Shillong Lajong coach Thangboi Singto said, “Winning will give us better chances for the Semifinals. We are expecting a good and competitive match.”
The Reds will have great confidence going into the game with their star striker and Trinidad-and-Tobago international Cornell Glen providing an important winning performance for Lajong FC in their match against Salgaocar FC. Also a huge positive for Lajong FC is the performance of the youngsters from their academy ranks including the likes of Redeem Tlang, Shaiborlang Kharpan and Bipin Singh. Redeem was phenomenal in the game against Salgaocar FC even scoring his first senior team goal for Shillong Lajong and becoming Lajong’s youngest goalscorer (Senior Team) at the age of 18. While Shaiborlang Kharpan and Bipin Singh came on as substitutes in the second half and they will look to prove Thangboi Singto even more with their performances against Mohun Bagan.
Karim Bencharifa’s men are very much aware of the capabilities of their opponents and Karim stated on goal.com that Lajong, “are a very good team”. His side picked up a win against Mumbai FC on their first Group C match and will be looking to convert more chances in the encounter against Lajong FC after Christopher Chizoba squandered a lot of goal opportunities in the opening match despite scoring the winner for The Mariners. The Kolkata outfit has not had the best of I-League campaigns having picked-up only 18 points from 15 games. Despite some recent on-and-off the pitch setbacks for the green-and-maroon the services of Odafe Onyeka Okolie back in the starting line-up would be a huge boost upfront and along with the dangerous services of Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa, they will prove to be a tough opposition for Shillong Lajong FC.
Thangboi Singto also added, “Mohun Bagan have good foreigners and Indian players as well. They also have a very highly respected coach and we need to do well in all aspects to stand a chance to win against them.”
A lot will be at stake in this encounter between the experienced Mohun Bagan AC and the resilient Shillong Lajong FC. In another Group C match on the same day Mumbai FC will take on Salgaocar FC at 7pm IST.
