Must-win match for Chennai City, Shillong

City coach V Soundararajan’s only other win was against Churchill Brothers, which was a much weaker side before the January signings, with the Goans visiting Coimbatore next. Shillong Lajong won’t be pushovers either, as it too needs a win to avoid its fourth consecutive loss. In fact, the host is on a seven-game winless run at the moment, wherein the only positive is the five draws - but again - four of them ended goalless.

Chennai City has added two new foreigners lately, defender Kim Dong-Hyeon and forward Aleksandar Rakic who started against Bagan. Goalkeeper Uros Poljanec was replaced by Kabir Thaufiq in that game and of which turned out to be a blessing as the latter saved Akram Moghrabi’s penalty. 

Shillong Lajong has lost five of its last six games and that’s a worrying factor for coach Bobby Nongbet. This will be the Meghalayan outfit’s last away fixture. 

Lajong is currently occupying a mid-table spot with 17 points from 15 matches while Chennai City has a game in hand with 12 points. Having drawn the first leg tie against Chennai City 0-0, a win wouldn’t necessarily put the visitor in a better position yet given that it faces Aizawl FC and East Bengal next.

Laurence Doe, who scored the equliser at 2-2 before Bali Gagandeep scored the winner for Minerva Punjab on Wednesday, is a doubtful starter on Sunday.