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| Protectors will attack vows Sivaji |
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| Home United have vowed to attack in their AFC Cup quarter-final 2nd leg match against Dempo. |
SINGAPORE – Home United coach PN Sivaji is not content to see his side sit on a narrow advantage against Dempo in their AFC Cup quarter-final tie and has pledged an attacking approach for the return match.
A 1-1 draw in the first leg in Hyderabad last week means that the Singapore club could go through with a goalless draw against the I-League outfit at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
But after seeing Home United hold out for the draw in India thanks to an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Lionel Lewis, Sivaji is keen for his charges to show greater attacking intent on home soil.
“We are not going into the tomorrow’s game playing with a defensive stance. We are going to play normally, the way that Home plays,” said the former Singapore national coach.
“We are going to go out there and try and win the game although we know that 0-0 is also enough.
“We managed to come away with a draw and an away goal from the first leg and while both teams will feel they have one foot in the semi-finals, I would make us as marginal favourites as we will be playing on familiar ground at home.
“It will be a good game, but it will come down to who puts away their chances on the night,” added Sivaji.
The Protectors will be without captain S. Subramani who is out with a metatarsal injury but Singapore international midfielder Shi Jiayi could return after missing the trip to India to receive treatment on his ankle.
Sivaji hopes that his players will be able to contain the threat posed by Dempo’s talented trio of import forwards, who caused all manner of problems for his team in India.
“Mboyo Iyomi is a big target man for their side who will pose an aerial threat to us while Ranti Martins and Beto have shown what they can do in the first leg against us,” said the Home United boss.
The artificial turf at the Jalan Besar Stadium appears to be the greatest concern for Dempo coach Armando Colaco.
“We play on natural grass in our league back home, but we have used the last few days training on the artificial pitch and hopefully it will help,” said Colaco.
“Our boys will still be very motivated for this match and hopefully we can continue from where we left off.
"The advantage is probably with Home United, but it is really anybody's game tomorrow."
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