Struggling HASC face Churchill test

Relegation-threatened Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club will have their task cut out when they take on Churchill Brothers on Saturday in the 20th round of the I-League at Nehru Stadium here.

HASC, who have won only one match this season against Chirag United, are at the bottom with 6 points from 19 ties. Aircraftmen are on the verge of relegation and will have to come up with something special to pull off a surprise win against the former champions. The Bangalore outfit suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat at home in their first-leg match to the same opponents.

Churchill are feeling the heat after their loss to Mumbai FC in their last match which pushed them to fifth place with 33 points from 18 matches. They have played one match less than Dempo who are at the top with 40 points.

The Goan side had at one stage displaced Dempo from the top slot. But after their loss against Mumbai coach Manuel Gomes is under pressure and a slip against HASC could pose threat to their title chances.

HASC coach R Thyagarajan admitted that beating Churchill at home will be a difficult task. “But we have chalked out a plan to contain them.”

However, Churchill manager Denzil Ferrao said he has a full strength team at his disposal and will be going all out for a win. “We are playing well but have been missing scoring chances. I hope this trend is reversed as a defeat further will spell doom to our chances of winning the title for the second time,” stated Ferrao.