Shillong, Aug 4: Rangdajied United will look to recover from a 3-1 derby defeat to local rivals Shillong Lajong and stay alive in Group E of the Durand Cup 2025 when they take on the Malaysian Armed Forces FT in their second group match tomorrow. Kick-off will be at 7PM at the JN Stadium.
Playing in front of their home crowd once again, Rangdajied will know that 3 points are non-negotiable if they are to keep pace with group leaders Lajong and defending champions NorthEast United FC.
“I hope the boys have learned from the mistakes we made in the last match. We will try to deliver our best performance on the field, and I urge the team to enjoy the game and fight for a positive result,” said Rangdajied coach Aibanjop Shadap.
The Malaysian side, meanwhile, have already played two matches, going down 6-0 to Lajong and 3-1 to the Highlanders. While they showed improved attacking intent in the second half against NEUFC, culminating in a late goal by Muhammad Amir Faisal, they have struggled defensively and are now out of knockout contention.
“We know every match in this tournament is a challenge and Rangdajied will be no different. The focus for us is on improving with each game and playing to our strengths. The players are committed to giving their best and pushing for a positive result,” said Masrizar bin Mizalan, assistant coach of the Malaysian team.
For Rangdajied, discipline will be key. They conceded many fouls and lost momentum in their opening clash, despite showing potential in brief attacking spells. Coach and players alike will be looking for a more balanced and clinical performance on Tuesday.
With only a few matches remaining in the group stage, every point is beginning to matter. For Rangdajied United the path to qualification is still open but only just. Tuesday’s match could very well be the turning point in Group E as it carries the weight of knockout-stage implications.
(Durand Cup media file photo of Rangdajied United players)
