AIFF Media Desk

Hyderabad, Saturday, May 9, 2026: Title challengers Sreenidi Deccan FC will face Shillong Lajong FC in a Championship Phase fixture of Star Cement Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Deccan Arena on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 18:30 IST.

The match will be broadcast live on DD Sports and Sony Sports Network, with streaming available on Waves and Sony LIV.

This meeting carries direct implications in the Championship Phase title race, with Sreenidi in third place and Shillong in second, both level on 21 points and still mathematically in contention for the top prize.

For Sreenidi, a win would lift them to 24 points and strengthen their position in the chasing pack, keeping them firmly in touch with the top. It would also push Shillong behind them, reshaping the immediate battle for the standings between the two challengers. A defeat would leave Sreenidi on 21 points and force them into a near-perfect finish in their remaining matches, while also relying on Shillong dropping points and Diamond Harbour FC slipping at the top. A draw keeps them alive but does little to materially improve their position in the race.

For Shillong, a win would also take them to 24 points and maintain their status as one of the primary challengers to Diamond Harbour. It would allow them to approach the final two matches with momentum and greater control over their destiny, while pushing Sreenidi into a must-win situation in their remaining fixtures. A defeat would stall them at 21 points, opening the door for Sreenidi to overtake them and significantly weaken their title push. A draw keeps them in contention but increases pressure across their final two games, reducing their margin for error.

In essence, this is a direct swing fixture between two title challengers. A win does not decide the race, but it reshapes the hierarchy of the chasing pack and determines who enters the final stretch with realistic momentum.

Both sides enter this fixture on the back of victories and will be aiming to extend their winning momentum at a crucial stage of the title race. Sreenidi Deccan edged Diamond Harbour FC 2-1 in their previous outing, with Brandon Vanlalremdika and David Castañeda on the scoresheet. Shillong Lajong FC, meanwhile, registered a dominant 4-0 win over Chanmari FC, with goals from Phrangki Buam, Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah, Damaitphang Lyngdoh, and Treimiki Lamurong.

The two sides could not be separated when they last met in the league stage on April 1, with the fixture ending in a goalless draw. The head-to-head record between the two sides in the IFL has also been closely contested. Across five meetings, both teams have registered one win each, while three matches have ended in draws.

Shillong head coach Birendra Thapa acknowledged the challenge awaiting his side against a team that has already beaten table topper Diamond Harbour twice this season.

“Sreenidi is a very good side, we have played with them, they know our weaknesses and strengths, we all know. [Carlos Vaz Pinto] is a very good coach; I have worked with him. And they are the only team that has beaten Diamond Harbour twice. Other than that, Diamond Harbour has not lost to any team. So, I think it will be a good match, and a win will still put pressure on Diamond Harbour.”

Sreenidi Deccan head coach Carlos Vaz Pinto, meanwhile, stressed the importance of tactical flexibility while maintaining the team’s core playing identity.

“We don’t change game by game, we don’t change our idea of the game. General ideas we keep the same for the team. What changes is our approach normally in set pieces and normally the way that we press, and also a few details in the way that we attack, so that opponents have some weak points and we try to explore them.”

Defensively, both sides have been among the strongest in the competition. Shillong hold the best defensive record in the league, having conceded nine goals, while Sreenidi is close behind with 10 goals conceded, just one more. This sets up a tightly poised contest between two compact defensive units. Hadi Idrissou and Deepak D P will be key at the back for Sreenidi, while Rudra Ved and Kenstar Kharshong will be central to Shillong’s defensive organisation.

The contrast becomes more pronounced in attack, where Shillong hold a clear edge. They have scored 20 goals, the second-best attacking record in the campaign, complementing their league-best defensive record to underline a strong balance that has made them a dangerous, all-round unit. Sreenidi, by contrast, have scored 14 goals, which is joint-lowest among teams in the Championship Phase.

Ahead of the contest, Sreenidi defender Deepak DP acknowledged the physical and energetic threat posed by Shillong’s frontline.

“It’s going to be a tough match. Obviously, they run a lot, but you know [we] have been doing well and we’re not going to back down. We just stick to the plan that the coach has given us, and we’ll try to go for the game the same way.”

Sreenidi will again look towards Castañeda, who has four goal involvements (three goals, one assist), as their primary attacking outlet. Fabrice Kah Nkwoh (three goals) and Brandon (two goals, one assist) will also be important in the final third.

Shillong, meanwhile, carry a more in-form attacking unit, with Everbrightson Sana leading the line on 11 goal involvements (six goals, five assists). Phrangki Buam (six goal involvements – five goals, one assist) and Treimiki Lamurong (five goal involvements – four goals, one assist) add further depth and threat in forward areas.

Shillong Lajong goalkeeper Ranit Sarkar highlighted the importance of cohesion and communication within the squad heading into the decisive phase of the campaign.

“I think that’s the most important thing. Because whenever the team performs well, it’s because of the leadership and the communication. And that’s what the togetherness is about. We’ll focus on the same thing as we are doing in the last games.”

Both sides will need nothing less than a win to maintain the pressure on league leaders Diamond Harbour and also stake their claim for the title and promotion.