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Air India is hoping that their slide will be arrested with a full-strength squad without injuries or cards will be at disposal when they take on Shillong Lajong FC in the Round XIV match in the I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex ground here on Saturday.
Much against the expectations, Air India had picked up pace with three straight wins last month including against league leaders Dempo SC helped them to climb as high as No 5 in the standings, but losses against Mohun Bagan and East Bengal before the mid-season break put brakes on their surge upwards.
“We are in good shape now. The rest has done a lot of good for us and with no injuries and entire team to choose from, I would hope that the team will do its best against Shillong Lajong,” said Air India coach Santosh Kashyap.
Currently placed at No 7 with 19 points from 13 matches, Air India is hoping that finally they would be able to break the jinx against Lajong.
“Lajong is a good side and they are improving by every match. We saw them playing against Salgaocar. They played good football and were unlucky to lose that match,” observed Kashyap.
This season, when Air India travelled to Shillong’s home ground, the two teams played a fantastic encounter and but for acrobatic display under the bar by Pawan Kumar, Air India would have lost that tie, which ended goalless.
“That was something of a match. It could have gone any way, but I must say Lajong played very good football and except for Pawan Kumar’s heroics, we would have lost crucial points there,” Kashyap reminded.
“When we drew against Lajong in November, we realized they are just as young side as us. They have some excellent players so we will have to keep our guard intact and go for the kill,” said Kashyap
Lajong, on the other hand has had a see-saw journey through their last five encounters, winning two, losing two and drawing one.
But when they take the ground at Balewadi, their second match here this season, they would know that they had held mighty Pune FC to a goalless draw in the season opener in October.
The match is slated for 3 pm.
