Shillong, Jan. 25: Shillong Lajong FC and its fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The State Sports Council has agreed to the I-League club's hosting two home matches at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, even though they come just a few days ahead of the 12th South Asian Games (SAG).

Lajong are scheduled to play Salgaocar on Thursday and Sporting Clube de Goa three days later. The stadium, host to Shillong I-League matches since Lajong's maiden 2009-10 season, is meant to see action in the women's football in the 12th SAG from February 5. All the venues are meant to be handed over to the SAG organising committee well before the start of the international sporting event and extensive renovations are still going on at this stadium.

Shillong Lajong, it is understood, were searching for alternative venues if they could not play in Shillong, with Aizawl as a strong contender. The Mizoram Football Association was also learnt to have been highly supportive and pledged to help Lajong hold the two fixtures in Aizawl. If denied use of the ground, it would have been a case of failing to back a club that has done more for Meghalaya and Northeast football than any other in the country's top tier of the sport.

Considerations like this resulted in Meghalaya government officials putting their weight behind Lajong's request to keep their I-League matches in Shillong.