Shillong, Dec 01: Shillong Lajong FC will host Neroca FC in the last I-League home game of this calendar year on 2nd December, Sunday at the JN Stadium Shillong at 5PM.
The tickets for the match will be available at the SSA Stadium Counter in Polo Ground.
The young Reds are heading into this clash after playing a 2-2 draw at home against the defending champions, Minerva Punjab FC on 23rd November. Phrangki Buam and Allen Lyngdoh netted a piece for Lajong.
Lajong have scored 8 goals from 6 games and these goals have come from Mahesh Singh (2), Phrangki Buam (2), Samuel Lalmuanpuia (1), Samuel Kynshi (1), Rakesh Pradhan (1) and Allen Lyngdoh (1).
Although The Reds are currently not in a very good position on the I-League standings, they hope to turn things around on Sunday when they host the Manipuri side.
Speaking ahead of the North East Derby, Coach Alison Kharsyntriew said, “We have to go all out to get the three points on Sunday. It is really important for the team to get points before we head out again for the away matches.”
“The boys have worked very hard at training and I hope that they can avoid making the silly mistakes. They need to be more confident, stay calm and convert the chances we get into goals.”
“Neroca is a very strong side and they have good and experienced players. It will be a tough match but my boys are ready for the challenge”, he added.
Neroca FC has played five matches so far and they won once, drew and lost twice. They played their first match against East Bengal and lost by 2-0, drew their second game versus Gokulam Kerala 1-1, played a goalless draw against Aizawl FC in their third match, won their first game of the season versus Real Kashmir 2-0 and lost their last game to Chennai 2-1.
Felix Odili Chidi scored two goals while Subash Singh and Eduardo Soares scored one goal each for Neroca.
In the previous season, Lajong lost the home match against Neroca FC by a solitary goal on 23rd December 2017 while they won the away match with a 2-0 scoreline on 24th January 2018 in Imphal.
After Gift Raikhan’s departure, Neroca FC roped in Manuel Retamero for the I-League 2018-19 season. Players to watch out for from their side are Yusa Katsumi, Eduardo Ferreira, Felix Odili Chidi and Eduardo Soares.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference on Saturday, Neroca FC Head Coach, Manuel Retamero said, “It will be a tough match on Sunday against Lajong and we must keep the level going just like in the previous match.” “We must give our best and take the three points from the game.”
