Task cut out for East Bengal vs Royal Wahingdoh

Kolkata: East Bengal will look to avenge their first-leg defeat against Royal Wahingdoh when the two teams clash in a battle for the third spot in the I-League football tournament here on Sunday.

For Shillong outfit it would be their last match of the top tier league and it has been a tremendous outing for the qualifiers who are placed third with 30 points. A win for the Royal will seal them a third spot, while East Bengal who are placed fourth with 26 points with a match in hand would have to win their remaining two matches to give them a chance of a top-three finish.

Both teams would also be motivated by the presence of national coach Stephen Constantine who would watch the match from the sidelines ahead of India's 2018 World Cup preliminary joint qualifiers against Oman at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on June 11 while the next match against Guam will be played in Guam on June 16.

Royal Wahingdoh won by Godwin Franco's solitary goal in the first leg, while East Bengal had beaten the Shillong outfit in the Federation Cup in the only other meeting they had in the last year's Federation Cup.

East Bengal's task would be cut out against the spirited Royal Wahingdoh and it's the leading goalscorer Ranty Martins with 17 to his kitty who will once again play the key role.

East Bengal have suffered three consecutive losses with their last win coming in Goa against Dempo on April 25 and coach Eelco Schattorie would have a tough time to lift his team. At the same time, East Bengal would have the best chance to return to winning ways as they conclude their campaign in Shillong on May 30.

The Royals were beaten by Mohun Bagan 2-0 in their last match at the same venue, Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat on the outskirts of the city. Seityasen Singh and Jackichand Singh will be the centre of attraction while the likes of Densill Theobald and Kim Song Yong will also be eager to show their class.