By I-League Media

PUNE: Following a miraculous victory over title contenders Kingfisher East Bengal, DSK Shivajians are gearing up for their home game against Sporting Clube de Goa in the Hero I-League. Nevertheless, DSK Shivajians embarked their Hero I-League journey against the Oranje with a goalless draw at the Fatorda Stadium in the second round.
Only five matches will remain after this match for the Pune outfit which include two home matches. Given that the DSK Shivajians haven’t won a single away match, it will be an acid test for coach Derrick Pereira to guide his team well towards the business end of the season.

“We have been in good spirits and we will hope to perform the way we performed in the previous match and try to get three points. We have a fit team and all the players are available for the match tomorrow,” Pereira said. He further added, “Sporting Clube de Goa is a good side who move around the ball well and are strong in attack. We have taken note of their strengths and weaknesses and accordingly, have prepared a game plan for the match tomorrow, which could help us win.”

The Hero I-League will go for an eighteen-day international break when India will host Turkmenistan in Bengaluru and then travel to Tehran to play Iran.

DSK Shivajians are still at the bottom with nine points from ten matches. Aizawl FC, following today’s heart-breaking loss against Kingfisher East Bengal, are locked with them at the bottom with as many points. The highlanders are placed one place above the Pune club, thanks to their superior head-to-head record.

Sporting Clube de Goa, on the other hand, have fourteen points from eleven matches so far and are currently stranded at the fourth position being Mohun Bagan (22), Bengaluru FC (22) and Kingfisher East Bengal (20).
“The players are content with the last performance. We realize all the matches are important and we have to keep working to keep getting good results. Our team is prepared for the match tomorrow and hopefully, we can get the victory,” said Quero who attended the press conference along with the coach.

While Subrata earned his pay-cheque well, new signing Sandesh Jhingan played his heart out after being cleared of injury concern.

Meanwhile, Sporting Clube de Goa will miss the services of the Nigerian defender Loveday Okechukwu, who was sent off in their 2-2 draw against Bengaluru FC a week ago along with striker Odafa Okolie who’s far from gaining match fitness.

The Hero I-League encounter slated to kick off at 07:00 pm and it will be streamed live on I-League.Org.