Shillong Lajong will have to make a remarkable comeback at home on Saturday if they want to make it to the final of Federation Cup 2016. The North-East Indian side take on Mohun Bagan in their second leg semifinal fixture of the competition in Shillong.
Former I-League champions Mohun Bagan thrashed Lajong 5-0 in their first leg encounter in Barasat last Sunday.
The Mariners could be expected to take the fixture as an easy one, but if Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen is even at all interested in taking the match lightly, remains to be seen. Bagan are coming into this game at the back of their first defeat in AFC Cup 2016, at the hands of South China earlier this week in Guwahati.
"This is a new game," stated Sen during the pre-match conference, as quoted by an AIFF (All India Football Federation) release. "We are starting 0-0. [We] Need to win this game and qualify for the final.
"We need to win the Fed Cup for our supporters," he added.
Lajong, who earlier trounced Kolkata powerhouses East Bengal to reach the last four of Fed Cup 2016, are gearing up to give their best in the do-or-die fixture. "For us it (tomorrow's game) is one more chance for redemption. The players should take this game as a big challenge and aim to end the season on a high," said Shillong Lajong coach Thangboi Singto.
"Bagan grabbed their advantage in Kolkata, now it's our turn. Football is unpredictable, anything is possible," added Lajong's influential midfielder Penn Orji.
Where to watch live
Federation Cup 2016 semifinal second leg: Shillong Lajong vs Mohun Bagan is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. IST on May 14.
In India and the rest of the subcontinent, the match will be broadcast on Ten 2. Online streaming will also be available on the official I-League website.
The live scores can be found on the official AIFF twitter handle.
