After a run of six consecutive away games, Shillong Lajong FC have returned to familiar surroundings and will take on Aizawl FC in the 21st round of I-League 2024-25 at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here tomorrow. Kick-off will be at 7pm.
The pickings were slim for Lajong on the road, with just 4 points earned, thanks to a draw against Dempo SC on February 19 and a 4-3 win against Gokulam Kerala FC on March 3.
The last three fixtures have all ended in defeat, including two hammerings against Churchill Brothers (6-1) and Rajasthan FC (4-0), though the last one was a much closer 2-1 loss at Inter Kashi.
Eighth-placed Lajong will now have a strong chance to pick up a win as former champions Aizawl (three positions lower down) are struggling this season and are currently in the relegation zone. When the two sides met in the first leg in January, SLFC were victors in Aizawl.
In five I-League meetings between the two sides in Shillong, Aizawl have only beaten Lajong once, in the 2023-24 season.
Lajong are safe this season but can only finish as high as sixth in the standings, depending on how their nearest rivals do. Tomorrow’s match will be important in the relegation battle. While bottom side Delhi FC will definitely finish in the drop zone, SC Bengaluru and Aizawl are trying to avoid the same fate.
SC Bengaluru, on 20 points, can seal survival with a win over Namdhari FC on Sunday, provided Aizawl – currently on 19 points – lose against Lajong.
