Kolkata: Visiting Pune FC will be eyeing a lead before the I-League takes a seven week break when they face a struggling Mohun Bagan in a Round 16 fixture at Barasat Stadium, here tomorrow.
Currently holding the third place with 24 points, the Pune outfit, who defeated United SC 2-1 in the last round, are enjoying a fine success rate.
Having won the first leg 2-0, Pune FC will be looking to score the double against a team who are struggling to get their act together.
Pune coach Mike Snoei will look forwrad to the return of India international Arata Izumi from suspension even as the team will miss the services of Nikhil Kadam due to an injury.
All the eyes would be on Mustapha Riga, a former Bolton and Levante player, who is in top form after netting a match-winning brace against United SC last weekend.
Snoei's side have won both their away matches against Kolkata clubs this season and Pune lead the head-to-head record in the I-League with three wins, four draws and two defeats.
Lying 10th with five points separating them from last placed Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan lost to Dempo in their last round as both coach Karim Bencherifa and ace striker Odafa Okolie are under severe pressure with intense speculation about their future.
As time is running out for both of them, it remains to be seen how the Nigerian goal machine, who does not seem to be fully fit, overcomes from his lean patch.
The team will miss out on young midfielder Manish Bhargav, who is nursing an injury.
"Pune FC are a quality side with a great blend of local and foreign talent. We have to start afresh and give a strong performance," Bencherifa said.
Shillong Lajong faces Dempo
Shillong Lajong faces Dempo
Shillong: Shillong Lajong FC will lock horns with Dempo SC in their 10th home match of the ongoing I-League season at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, here tomorrow.
The Shillong outfit will only have three more matches to play in home conditions once the season resumes in February and need to make every one of them count after being a little lacking in some of their earlier local games.
Out of nine, Lajong have won just two, but that includes their last game – a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Salgaocar FC.
The Reds then travelled to Goa to beat Churchill Brothers 1-0 before suffering a monumental 5-1 defeat to second-placed Sporting Clube de Goa.
SLFC, who have played 14 matches, are in a commendable fourth place on 20 points and are safe for this week. They can neither overtake or be overtaken by any club on the results of this round.
Dempo, meanwhile, are in ninth spot, with 16 points from 14 games. They pulled away from 11th spot with a 1-0 win over Mohun Bagan last week and could move even higher with a victory over their hosts.
The Goans have already been to Shillong once this season, on October 4, when they let a 2-0 lead slip their grasp against Rangdajied United FC to draw two apiece.
Billy Mehmet was an intimidating presence on the pitch that day, while skipper Clifford Miranda was also impressive. Rangdajied, however, were simply inspired in their comeback, leaving Dempo little that they could do.
Lajong, meanwhile, will remember the first match of the season, when they surprised everyone by winning 3-0 at Dempo.
The Reds are suffering a few injuries, with Uilliams Souza Silva still an unlikely figure for tomorrow's game. Captain Minchol Son and lead striker Cornell Glen were both not 100 per cent in the game against Sporting, their coach Thangboi Singto said after that match.
Lajong, however, do not have great strength in depth and may be required to use them again even if not optimally fit.
No one could have banked on Lajong beating Dempo in the opening game of the season, but with the I-League this year being as unpredictable as the weather, no one can know what lies in store when the two teams meet in Shillong come tomorrow evening.
Sporting Clube takes on United SC
Sporting Clube take on United SC
Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa will be eyeing nothing less than a victory when they take on United Sports Club in a crucial match of the I-League at the Duler Stadium, here tomorrow.
A win will take them to the top of the ladder, along with Bengaluru FC, and that will be a good incentive for all the hardwork the team has put in all these months, feels Sporting Clube de Goa coach Oscar Bruzon.
"The boys have really worked hard. They have slogged everyday and deserve to be in the position that they are. But, before we can start jumping to conclusions, I need to win against United Sports Club," he said.
Bruzon insisted his team can start looking at "higher goals" only when the I-League resumes next year.
Sporting Clube are placed second at the moment and are considered challengers to leaders Bengaluru FC for the title. They are just three points behind the leaders but the Spanish coach said any plans to compete for positions can wait till February.
"For now, we have to focus on one match at a time," he said.
Bruzon said it is "mandatory" for his team to collect all three points on offer, especially because they lost 1-3 to United in the away match.
"With due respect to United, it was a game we should have won comfortably. We missed so many chances and conceded two silly goals at the fag end of the match. We don't want such stories to be repeated," he said.
Sporting Clube will welcome back Mathew Gonsalves and Prathesh Shirodkar, both of whom sat out of the last match due to suspension. Jovel Martins and Mauvin Borges, however, are injured and unlikely to play any part in the concluding I-League game before the break.
United are currently seventh on the table with 18 points. A win will take them to the fourth spot and with the likes of Ranty Martins and Eric Brown to count upon, United will always remain a dangerous side.
The last time coach Eeclo Schattorie's side visited Goa they returned with an emphatic victory over Dempo Sports Club. Schattorie will be hopeful of completing the double over Sporting Clube.
