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In the 6th round of I-League games, promoted Rangdajied United FC is set to lock horns with Sporting Clube de Goa in the latter’s den, with the Meghalaya side still looking for its first-ever win in the I-League. After a disappointing 3-0 home loss to Mohammedan Sporting on Sunday, The Blues will be hoping they puts on a better display against the Flaming Oranje.
The game against Sporting Goa will be the first occasion Rangdajied United will be playing an I-League game in Goa, and the Blues will try to stamp their mark on their debut at one of India’s major footballing hubs. After registering two draws against Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers in the first 5 rounds, the blues currently sit at the bottom of the table, level on points with defending champions Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan.
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The newly-promoted I-League team will, however, be boosted by their performances in the two home draws, and will try to put aside the memories of the Mohammedan Sporting game. At the back, Surjay Pariyar is set to keep his starting position, and will have a key role to play against the Flaming Oranje.
Coach Santosh Kashyap will have many options to choose his back four from, with Poibang Pohshna, Lamine Tamba, Munmun Lugun, Bhola Prasad, Thomas Saikhom, Pynshongdor Shadap, Pratik Chowdhary and Ambilstar Sunn all available. After allowing three goals against Mohammedan Sporting, the Blues’ defence will be looking for a much improved performance against Sporting Goa.
Midfielders Abocha Singh, Restom Khriam, David Nghaite, Eugeneson Lynghdoh and Laldingngheta will hope to feature in the starting XI, and against a strong Sporting Goa midfield, the Rangdajied medios will have to be at the top of their game. Lyngdoh and Nghaite have been quite impressive in the first few rounds, and will hope to keep up their good form.
Upfront, Santosh Kashyap will have quite a few options to pick from, with Edmar, Ho-Jun Shin, Nagen Tamang, T. Lalnunpuia, Joy Kharraswai and Sandesh Gadkari all fit. Considering Sporting Goa’s decent defensive record so far, it will be interesting to see which forwards feature on Kashyap’s team on Thursday.
In the first five rounds, coach Kashyap has tried out many different tactics and team combinations in his starting XIs. With Rangdajied United still getting adjusted to the new environment of the I-League, the coach may yet try out fresh options on Thursday, with a positive result in mind.
