Shillong, Apr 25: Shillong Lajong FC will play their first match of the Championship Round in the Indian Football League 2025-26 against Dempo SC here on Sunday. Kick-off at the SSA Stadium will be at 6:30pm.
Dempo walloped Lajong 3-0 on April 7 in Goa in Stage 1 – it was SLFC’s only really disappointing performance in an otherwise stellar campaign.
Now, in Stage 2, the Reds have a chance to make amends for that slip and to do it in front of their home fans.
Lajong finished Stage 1 in second place with 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, while Dempo were sixth, which was just enough to see them qualify for the Championship Round instead of having to slug it out in the Relegation Round for the bottom four clubs. The Goans had 2 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses.
Being in the Top 3 means that Lajong will have three home games in Stage 2. In the first leg they won 2, drew 1 and lost 1 match at the SSA Stadium. Their most recent result was a stomping 6-1 victory against Aizawl FC on April 18. Dempo, meanwhile, had lost their most recent outing to Rajasthan United FC 2-1 the following day.
Lajong have already seen two of their nearest rivals win their opening Stage 2 fixtures. Yesterday Sreenidi Deccan edged Rajasthan 2-1 and today leaders Diamond Harbour blanked Chanmari FC 2-0.
