I-LEAGUE Media Team

SHILLONG: Fresh from their Sunday triumph over Pune FC, Royal Wahingdoh FC will take on Kolkata giants East Bengal here on Tuesday in a rescheduled Hero I-League match that would give them the chance to retake second position in the points table.

The Royals are riding high after a stellar performance against the Red Lizards, but will have to be prepared for a quick turnaround against the Red & Golds. East Bengal, on the hand, have to pick themselves up after going down to Mohun Bagan 1-0 on Saturday in the Kolkata Derby.

That should set the fans up for an excellent match. KEB have not had a chance to play in Shillong this season, but the Pine City has been a good place for them in the past, with two wins in two in 2013-14 against Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC.

However, Wahingdoh will prove to be a bigger hurdle. No Shillong outfit thus far has proven to be such a challenge for the top I-League teams and after playing down his side’s chances of taking the title in their maiden season of top flight football, RWFC coach Santosh Kashyap finally broke his silence on the issue after the game against Pune and said he hoped his boys can go all the way and come out on top at the end of the season.

“We’ve become more dangerous. We dominated the game and as we planned, we were organised. I hope that this run continues and we become champions of the Hero I-League,” Kashyap said after Sunday’s fixture.

After previously ruing the players’ squandering of chances that cost them a win against Bharat FC, Kashyap was all smiles after the way his team took down Pune FC, who have been consistently strong over the last few years.

Meanwhile, East Bengal may be a little disheartened to lose against arch rivals Bagan, but the Mariners have been singing to their own tune all season and are unbeatable. That is not the case of Wahingdoh, who have been beaten once at home this season when Bengaluru FC thrashed them 4-0.

Eelco Schattorie’s East Bengal have a game in hand over the Royals and a win on Tuesday could lift them from sixth to as high as fourth. Wahingdoh, meanwhile, could move to second, but that will also depend on the result of the Bengaluru-Sporting Clube de Goa match that same day.

The Kolkatan outfit will look to striker Ranti Martins to weave his magic against Wahingdoh, who, in the recent past, have looked a little underwhelming in defence. Martins has scored 12 goals in nine outings and is in strong contention for the Golden Boot this year, though the host team will have to aim to keep him silent if they want to continue their dream run in the Hero I-League.

Match KO: Mar 31 @ 4:30 PM IST (Ten Action)
 

Hashtag: #RWFCvKEB