NAGALAND PREMIER LEAGUE : MATCHDAY 18 PREVIEWS

Saturday, Nov 23, 2013 By NPL Pundits Dimapur, DDSC Stadium Barak FC vs Veda FC Kick-off: 11 am FC Naga Tornadoes vs Kohima Komets Kick-off: 1 pm Kohima, IG Stadium Doyang FC vs Dimapur United FC Kick-off: 12 noon Mokokchung, Imkongmeren Sports Complex Sangpang FC vs United Redskins FC Kick-off: 12 noonBarak FC vs Veda FC Defending champions Barak bowed out of the title race last matchday when they crashed to a defeat against a resurgent Naga Tornadoes outfit. They are now off the pace by 8 points with just 2 games remaining. Barak face leaders Veda in the first match in Dimapur and they will look to finish the last two games on a high note. Veda FC are on the brink of lifting the NPL Title in the debut season after showing remarkable consistency over the course of two months. Veda are ahead of 2nd placed Kohima Komets by 4 points with just 2 games left to play and a victory on Saturday against Barak will see them clinch the crown with a game remaining. FC Naga Tornadoes vs Kohima Komets Kohima Komets take on Naga Tornadoes in Dimapur in a crucial encounter on Saturday. Their title hopes are hanging in balance as they are 4 points behind Veda with just 2 games to play. Kohima Komets must win this game to remain in the hunt and hope Veda falter against Barak in the first match in Dimapur. Naga Tornadoes’ sublime form continued last matchday after a resounding victory over Barak. They are currently placed 4th on the table and they would like to continue their superb form and finish high up the table. Doyang FC vs Dimapur United FC Doyang face Dimapur United in the only match in Kohima at the weekend. They endured another uneventful matchday when they were blanked 2 – 0 by rivals Dynamic on Wednesday. They are rooted to the bottom of the table with just 5 points and they face a difficult end to the season as they face two tough teams. Dimapur United climbed to 5th place on the table after an impressive victory over Zonipang on Wednesday. Four teams above them play each other on Saturday and they can climb further up the ladder if they can manage to secure 3 points against Doyang. Sangpang FC  vs United Redskins FC Sangpang host United Redskins in Mokokchung with the aim to leapfrog local rivals Zonipang, who are ahead by just 1 point, to 6th place on the table. Sangpang went down to Kohima Komets by a lone goal in their last game in Kohima. They will go out to win this match and stay ahead of Zonipang keeping in mind the local derby coming up next matchday which is also the last game of the season. United Redskins make the long trip to Mokokchung to face Sangpang in the penultimate match of the season. The debutants will look to make things difficult for the hosts and snatch a positive result out of this tricky away game.