Mohun Bagan are clear favourites to win and top Group B ahead of their match vs Shillong Lajong, courtesy their boisterous performance in the group opener where they smashed 4 goals past a hapless DSK Shivajians without reply.
The Reds from Meghalaya staged a late comeback but it wasn't enough against Bengaluru FC as they went down 2-3 and they would want a reversal of fortunes when they take on the Mariners.
If Shillong Lajong manage to get one over the Kolkata giants on Wednesday, it will be their first ever win in the last five matches over the Mariners. Coach Thangboi Singto will need his star striker and I-League golden boot winner Aser Dipanda to be fit again and to find his scoring boots once again, after missing a penalty in the first game.
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Sanjoy Sen meanwhile will have to make sure that his team doesn’t take their foot off the gas. The lethal striking duo of Balwant Singh and Darryl Duffy will hope for a repeat of the first game to put the Reds’ defence to the sword.
In their past encounters, Mohun Bagan have a disparate advantage as they have won 9 to Shillong's 3 of their 21 matches between them, with 9 ending in draws.
TEAM NEWS
The big news as far as the Reds are concerned is the injury suffered by golden boot winner Aser Dipanda in the game against Bengaluru FC. The star striker who is a first team regular suffered a calf strain and remains doubtful for the game.
In the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, the defensive line is expected to be tweaked a bit to fix the leakage that let in three goals in the last game. Nim Dorjee Tamang is also said to have injured his knee, which should see Pritam Kumar get a run in. Isaac Vanmalsawma could partner Kinowaki in the double pivot, relegating Alan Deory to the bench. Brazilian forward Fabio Pena is waiting in the wings if Aser Dipanda is deemed unfit to start.
Mohun Bagan will not want to alter their winning team but goalkeeper Debjit Majumder is expected to replace Shilton Paul in the lineup. In an otherwise unchanged 4-4-2, Balwant Singh and Daryl Duffy will lead the attack with support from Sony Norde and Yuse from the flanks. Eduardo Ferreria and Anas Edathodika look set to provide solidity in defence in front of incoming Majumder.
PREDICTED XI
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 PM IST on Wednesday, 10 May 2017 at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.