I-League: Rangdajied look for victory against Dempo

Shillong outfit Rangdajied United FC will take on Goan powerhouse Dempo SC in an Airtel I-League match at the Tilak Maidan here Saturday.

Rooted at the bottom of the league ladder, Rangdajied United have shown signs of improvement, doing exceedingly well in the Federation Cup and then losing narrowly to defending champions Churchill Brothers when the I-League resumed earlier this week.

Coach Santosh Kashyap feels his team has been putting in impressive performances, although they do not have much to show in the points tally.

"The team has been playing well but our only concern is that we are not converting the chances. We must improve on that count," said Kashyap.

Rangdajied United play their second consecutive match in Goa and unlike their previous loss against Churchill Brothers, Kashyap said they cannot afford to make the same mistakes against Dempo.

"The way we are playing, I am confident that we can secure a win. The problem is the scoring. If there is a goal, everybody is energised but if we continue to miss chances, than the defence too finds it difficult to hold up for 90 minutes," he said.

Rangdajied United with just 12 points are at the bottom of the pool but Dempo Sports Club, with 16 points and having played an extra match, are not in the most comfortable position either.

A win for Rangdajied will take them within a point of the former champions and still have a match in hand.

"It's important that we don't allow this match to slip out of our hands," said the Rangdajied coach.

Dempo have shown signs of improvement, after the arrivals of players like Sanju Pradhan from IMG-Reliance, H Amiri (Mumbai FC) and Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey, who opted out of Mohammedan Sporting.

The trio has strengthened Dempo and coach Arthur Papas is likely to rely on the three to see his side through.