SHILLONG: Two sides, Shillong Lajong FC and Sporting Clube de Goa, evenly matched in the standings, will lock horns in a Round 5 Hero I-League 2015-16 tie at the JN Stadium Shillong on Sunday afternoon.

Both Lajong and Sporting are at four points each and come to the match riding on the back of wins over Salgaocar and Aizawl FC respectively.

For Lajong, the win over Salgaocar could not have come at a better time and the same could be said about Mateus Costa’s side which was desperate for its first win of the season.

Lajong, playing its second home game in four days, is well aware of the challenge that awaits them on Sunday. Despite being pepped up by the first win of the season at home turf three days ago, Reds’ coach Thangboi Singto is well aware that history is on the side of the visitors.

Sporting Goa have always had the edge over the Northeastern side and this aspect is something that would certainly bother Sinto all along. In the last five encounters, Sporting got the better of Lajong on three occasions while the rest ended in stalemates.

“We don’t have the best of records against Sporting, history says it… (but) tomorrow is a chance to change that legacy,” said a confident Sinto ahead of the tie on Sunday adding that the team that plays better will end up with a good result.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” Sinto said as he called upon Lajong loyalists to rally behind the hosts tomorrow.

Costa, meanwhile, isn’t the one to rest on past laurels and dismissed his side record over Lajong as history. “Tomorrow is a new day and it would not be an easy game,” Costa said while expressing confidence that his side should put up a decent show.

“We have fared well this season and got the right result in the last match. Hope we continue the good work,” he said.

The Royal Wahingdoh duo of Loveday Okechukwu and Densill Theobald will be seen in action against the Reds tomorrow.

I-League Media