Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kota Bharu: Yangon United coach Eric Williams will be looking for his players to maintain their focus in their AFC Cup match away at Kelantan on Tuesday as they look to take a step towards the last 16 of the AFC Cup for a second year in a row.
A win in Kota Bharu would see the Myanmar side advance to the knockout rounds but Williams is mindful of his team’s sluggish starts in their previous away games in Group G against Ninh Binh in Vietnam and South China in Hong Kong, when they fell two goals behind early on and went on to lose both games.
“Obviously our strategy for the game tomorrow night will depend on whether the players that come in can concentrate well enough and compete against the professional players from Kelantan. But I think that whoever scores the first goal, it could be a vital step to either a point or three points,” said coach Williams.
Yangon are hampered by the suspension of two of their key players, Japanese defender Kazuki Yoshino and Myanmar international midfielder Yan Aung Kyaw, after the pair received their second yellow cards of the group stage during the 5-3 defeat at South China last week.
Kelantan, meanwhile, are three points adrift of Yangon United and having lost 5-3 in Myanmar earlier in the campaign, the game is very much a must-win for them.
However, the Malaysian side’s preparations have not been helped by a busy schedule that sees them playing a third game in just six days.
“Our schedule has been very tough,” said coach Steve Darby. “After our match in Ninh Binh, it took us 18 hours and three flights to get back to Kota Bharu and then we had to play a league game against ATM 48 hours later which we won 1-0. Then we play this game on Tuesday and then we have another league game this Saturday.
To add to Darby’s dilemma will be the suspensions of Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Shawkey and forward Shakir Aliand, while an injury to forward Ahmad Fakri Saarani also rules him out of the tie.
In Group G’s other game, bottom side South China of Hong Kong will have a hugely difficult task on their hands when they travel to Vietnam to face leaders XM Vissai Ninh Binh who, along with Safa SC, boast the only remaining 100% record in the AFC Cup group stages.
For the Caroliners, not only is a win is essential but they must also hope that Yangon do not defeat Kelantan to ensure that qualification from the group is decided on the final matchday in a fortnight’s time.
Their coach Yeung Ching Kwong is hoping that his South China side’s first victory of the AFC Cup, gained with the defeat of Yangon last week, can boost the team’s confidence in the face of improbable odds.
“It's very difficult to progress to the next round, but I still hope that we can do it if we win this game and the last game after. First 3 points last week is very important for us. That makes my players more confident, more motivation and we'll try our best in both last games,” said coach Yeung, who will have to face Ninh Binh without suspended forward Lee Wai Lim.
By contrast, Yeung’s opposite number Nguyen Van Sy is very confident of a positive result after defeating the Hong Kong club 3-1 on their own turf in their previous meeting and is keen to secure home advantage in the Round of 16 by topping the group.
"We defeated them in Hong Kong and after the game, I think that South China is not a strong team in the group, so I am sure that we can defeat them again if we play our best,” said coach Van Sy.
“We have a 100% record now but we need more victories to be sure of the top spot and more confident for the next round. “