Struggling hill men clash to stay afloat in I-League

SHILLONG, FEB 1: Relegation-threatened teams, Shillong Lajong FC and United Sikkim FC, will lock horns with each other at the J. N. Staidum here on Saturday with both teams from the north-eastern hills looking to garner the maximum points from their 19^th match of the I-League.

New signings of both the teams is expected to provide the pyrotechnics for the high-voltage clash. In fact, Lajong’s new Japanese player Sho’s brace ensured a draw in their last match against Air India. A strengthened USFC also held a strong Mohun Bagan and Pailian Arrows in their last two matches.

Young Sikkim coach Nathan J Hall said he is expecting nothing but full points from the match. “This will be crucial a match for both the teams as we and Lajong are expecting to get full points. We have a full team for the weekend match, and if the players play according to plan and discipline, I definitely am
going back with full points,” he said here on Friday.

Lajong, however, will be hoping to exploit the loophole in the back four of USFC which had conceded as many 7 goals against Dempo SC. “We do not talk about the previous matches. Dempo result, of course, was not welcoming, but we had very young and inexperienced players and the team was also hit by injuries… We have made some changes in the squad (since),” said the 29-year-old Hall.

Lajong interim coach Thongboi Sinto, on his par, said he was is confident his boys will put up a good
give a good fight on Saturday afternoon.”We have had a good match last week and hope the boys will continue to play in the same manner on Saturday. I hope we will get a positive result,” he said. (By Our Reporter)