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| AFC Challenge Cup |
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| Rabiev the key for Kodirov |
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| Tajikistan coach Pulod Kodirov is looking for in form striker Yusuf Rabiev to help the defending champions see off DPR Korea. |
HYDERABAD – Tajikistan coach Pulod Kodirov pointed to striker Yusuf Rabiev as the key to his side’s chances of victory when they meet DPR Korea in this year's AFC Challenge Cup semi-finals on Thursday.
Rabiev has scored four goals so far in the tournament having also played a major part in Tajikistan's triumph in 2006 when he netted four times and Kodirov is counting on the 29-year-old to once again fire them to glory.
"He is our main striker and we hope that he can take us to the final of the competition once again," said Kodirov
"He is a good striker and he has shown great development in the previous two years and he is now more experienced than before."
Kodirov also underlined he feels the AFC Challenge Cup is a much tougher prospect now than when they won it two years ago in Bangladesh.
"Of all the teams that are in the semi-finals, we are the only team that played in 2006 semi-finals," he added.
"This shows that the competition has developed and it has become stronger.
"All the teams that are in the semi-finals are going to give their best to reach the final. The best team will prevail and hopefully we can make it to the final once again."
Despite recording three victories to cruise through their group with a 100% record, DPR Korea coach Jo Tong-sop was still concerned his side may come unstuck in the lat four.
"We will try our best to continue the good results that had did in the group stage," he said.
"However, the main problem is that our performance drops in the second half after a good start in the first period.
"We also don't know much about Tajikistan as we haven't played against them before at senior level," he added.
"We have only seen them in their match against Turkmenistan and they seem to have quick and well-built players."
Jo will be without the services of midfielder Ri Jin-hyok who will miss the game through suspension after receiving two yellow cards in the group stage but he said his absence will not prove too much of a hindrance.
"He is only one player in our team and I am sure that we will not miss him," said Jo.
"We will decide who will replace him in final training or just before the match."
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