Shillong, May 1: Shillong Lajong FC will need to be at their best when they face Chanmari FC in a North East derby in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the SSA Stadium here on Saturday. Kick-off will be at 6:30pm.
Lajong drew with Dempo in their first Championship Round match last Sunday and Diamond Harbour, after they beat Chanmari 2-0, moved 7 points clear of SLFC in the race for the title.
The Reds have already met Chanmari this season and won 2-1 in Aizawl on March 19. They had to dig deep as they were behind in the game before a Phrangki Buam brace gave them victory.
To realistically keep their hopes of lifting the IFL title, Lajong will have to beat the Mizoram-based club tomorrow and hope that Diamond Harbour, who have been unbeaten for nine games, lose to Sreenidi Deccan (or at least draw) on Sunday.
Sreenidi are the only ones to have inflicted defeat on Diamond Harbour in IFL 2025-26 but that was the first match of the season and the West Bengal club have only gone from strength to strength since.
