KOLKATA: After having held Goan giant’s Salgaocar SC in their last encounter, Pailan Arrows will certainly have their morals high, when they face Shillong Lajong FC in their 19th round I-League match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, on Sunday.
Though Pailan Arrows are yet to register their first outright victory but they have managed to hold many top teams in the league voiding them of straight three points.
With 8 points in their tally from 16 matches, Pailan Arrows will be counting on the home advantage as couple of days ago the young team had put in a stupendous performance, avoiding last year’s league champion of 3 points.
“The boys are playing well but it’s just that we have not been able to convert the chances that came our way. The team is in high spirit especially after the last game against Salgaocar,” quipped Pailan Arrows Technical Director Sukhwinder Singh.
Shillong Lajong on the other hand will have their away victory against bottom placed team HAL on back of their mind, when they face Pailan Arrows.
Lajong will also be counting on their new signings Rennedy Singh and Sushil Kumar Singh to help them continue their winning streak. Lajong has 21 points from 18 matches.
Even Lajong coach was in praise of Arrows and stated “Pailan Arrows is young, competitive and an organised squad and that is quite evident the way they played their last match
“It is not going to be an easy game for us and we will have to play extremely well to pocket three points to secure ourselves from relegation zone,” Pradyum said.
Dempo to host Pune FC
GOA: Dempo Sports Club are aware of the dangers that Pune FC can pose, as they battle to extend their lead at the top of the table, in the 19th round I League encounter, played at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
Dempo enjoy a healthy five point lead at the top but coach Mauricio Afonso is not willing to leave anything to chance even against a team which lost 2-4 against Sporting Clube in their previous clash.
“We are playing at home. The crowd will be behind us but we still have a huge task on hand. Pune FC can upset calculations of any team in the competition,” said Mauricio.
The Dempo coach knows the threats that Pune FC will provide. After all, it was Pune FC who defeated them for the first time this season and marred their chances in the Federation Cup. That defeat is still fresh in the minds of the Dempo players, and despite having recovered since then, the hosts would still remain guarded.
“We are at a stage where no slip-ups can be allowed. There may not be enough time to recover,” said the Dempo coach.
Mauricio is expected to make only one change to the team with Cressan Antao – suspended for the next clash – returning to the defence in place of Rowilson Rodrigues.
Pune FC will miss the services of their reliable stopper-back Chika Wali and coach Derrick Pereira, is likely to ring in a couple of other changes as well.
“Chika is suspended so we may have to start with Costa, or get Shrikant to play there. There will be another change, possibly in midfield,” said Derrick.
Pune FC were on an unbeaten 11 match unbeaten streak which ended in the last game against Sporting Clube at the same venue. Pune FC started quite well as Keita Mandjou scored two goals inside 22 minutes but then allowed themselves to be dominated by the hosts who pumped in four goals.
“I think the weather was the biggest factor. We played in the chill of Shillong and the came to humid Goa. In-between there was the travel and we didn’t have much time to recover. That affected us,” said the Pune FC coach.
Air India look to consolidate position
PUNE: After a brave outing against Churchill Brothers, Air India has an easy match against HAL Bangalore in the 19th round I League match at the Balewadi Sports Complex Ground, Pune, on Sunday.
The Mumbai side will very well remember that the Bangalore team, which remained winless for 16 rounds, scored its first win of the season and indirectly helped Mumbai FC to stay clear of drop zone for a while.Though Air India is well clear of relegation zone, but given the way they have played so far and gathered respectable points, the airmen would like to be that way and finish on a high before I-League takes 40-odd-day break.
Air India will be propped up by the return of striker Henry Ezeh, and mid-fielder Takayuki Omi, both having forced to miss the Churchill match due to double bookings.
With 24 points from 18 matches, Air India is just three points behind Sporting Clube de Goa and three ahead of fast-approaching Shillong Lajong FC (21), who play Pailan Arrows on Sunday.
While HAL are at the bottom of the heap with 6 points and nothing really can change their fortunes at least for this season.
There were few worries for Air India as muffed several opportunities against Churchil, and key spoiler was midfielder Sandeep Sangha, who missed at least four chances to get the ball through Churchill’s net.
On most occasions, an over-ambitious Sangha fired over the crossbar, while once he completely missed the ball that landed in front of him when he had just the goalkeeper to beat. Peeved Kashyap replaced Sangha, as the match wore on.
Then there was Sandesh Gadkari, who also seemed lackluster in front of the goal mouth.
Though Manandeep is in fine nick, but luck wasn’t with him and Air India. Another positive that Air India can take into the match is custodian Pawan Kumar’s form, who saved several approaches by Churchill strikers.
Meanwhile, Ramalingam Thyagraj’s HAL, on the other hand will have to do a lot to tighten its defence.on this ground, this is HAL’s third match of the season having lost against Pune FC (3-1) and Mumbai FC (4-0).
But they also have happy memories of Balewadi, when the Bangalore side has troubled Pune FC last season.
In head-to-head though, Air India leads 2-0 in three matches with one match being drawn.
Chirag up against Sporting Clube
KOCHI: Chirag United Kerala would host Sporting Clube de Goa, in the 19th round I League encounter, at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi, on Sunday.
Sporting Clube de Goa and Chirag United Kerala are two clubs that are at the two extremes. If their recent forms are to be taken into consideration. The Goan are on a dream run in the I-League since last few rounds with a six match unbeaten streak, while their opponents from Kerala have now have lost four games on the trot.
Sporting are going into this game, following a 4-2 thrashing of Pune FC at Goa, thanks partly to a brace from their Nigerian midfielder Ogba Kalu Nnanna and largely to an all round performance from Ekendra Singh's boys.
While, Chirag United were down to nine men in their last round clash against Mohun Bagan and lost to them 3-1 despite putting up a good fight against them.
The absence of Captain and midfield general Ajayan K would be a huge set back for the Chirag, as he has to sit out due to injury. In his absence either Rehenesh TP or Sharath K are expected to be in the starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Sporting Clube, midfielder Adil Khan is expected to return to the squad after a lay off in the last match. He might now partner Ogba Kalu in the midfield with Dawson Fernandez and Sudanese striker James Moga heading the attack against the depleted Chirag line up.
Sporting clube stays at 27 points while Chirag have eleven points to their name.
The kick off is slated for 6:30 PM on Sunday.
