Shillong, Apr 17: The SSA Stadium will play host to another North East Derby when Shillong Lajong FC host Aizawl FC on Saturday in Round 9 of the Indian Football League 2025-26. Kick-off will be at 6:30PM.
This will be the last match for either club in Stage 1 of the IFL. Fourth-placed Lajong have already done enough to book their spot in the Championship Round of Stage 2 but it is touch-and-go as to whether Aizawl will join them.
The 2016-17 champions are currently seventh after fellow Mizoram side Chanmari FC (11 points) moved to fifth by defeating Namdhari 4-1 today. Dempo are currently sixth and are tied with Aizawl on 9 points each. The Top 5 (some reports say Top 6) will feature in the Championship Round and the bottom teams in the Relegation Round.
Lajong have been on the road for five games at a stretch where they performed impressively to bag three wins, a draw and just one defeat. Aizawl, on the other hand, have not won any of their last three games; the season started positively but they seem to have run out of steam a little since.
Aizawl are now back in Shillong to take on familiar foes. SLFC have won two out of their four meetings in the IFL (then known as the I-League) in the past two seasons, with one draw and one defeat. Shillong (specifically the JN Stadium) was the site of Aizawl’s singularly spectacular triumph in 2016-17 but was ages ago and the visitors will have a tough task to mount a challenge against a highly motivated Lajong.
(Photo: Aizawl FC/Facebook)