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Backed by the confidence of their improved performances over the last one month, a rejuvenated United SC will take on the might of one of the best improvers in the I-League, Shillong Lajong FC, in the 18th round of the I-League at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Sunday at 2.30pm.
United SC will look to end their season on a high as they eye a top five I-League spot. With 19 points from 17 outings, they will have to earn more points from their remaining fixtures to give themselves a decent chance of achieving the said target. The hosts resumed their last I-League match in midweek with a 1-1 draw against Mumbai FC.
Eric Brown has been Purple Brigade’s talisman this season and shall be keen to add a few more goals to his tally. The players will be motivated to beat their opposition on Sunday given that they shared a point in the first-leg fixture.
In United SC attack Nigerian Waheed is the key along with Eric Brown with Baldeep Singh likely to play behind Waheed, while a recovered Sangram Mukherjee will be the custodian.
“We would definitely like to continue the improvement and finish at a better position. A win would give us the points to do that,” said United SC technical director Subrata Bhattacharya.
The home side is currently in the eighth spot with 19 points from 17 matches. “Our opponents have shown lot of improvement in this year I-league. They are a balanced side and have the potential to beat anyone in the tournament. We have to be cautious and play to the best of our ability to make a match out of it.”
Meanwhile Shillong Lajong will be playing their first I-League game since the break in December and this fixture will be the first of their remaining six outside of Shillong. The Northeast club are currently fourth in the table with 23 points.
Shillong Lajong FC Coach Thangboi Singto said, “We need a strong and a positive start after the break and getting the three points will be great.”
“United plays a good brand of football and they have good experienced players. It’s going to be a tough match for us but we have to perform together as a team and one unit to win. We will be missing Taisuke and Milan which is a big setback. But this will provide an opportunity to other players to play and do well.”
Tomorrow’s match will be a good chance for United SC to move into sixth position of the table within one point of Lajong FC with a victory in this clash.
