Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: Tajikistan coach Khakim Fuzaylov has urged his players to be cautious when they take on Bangladesh in the first leg of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying play-off despite notching up a comprehensive win against Thursday’s opponents when the teams last met in October.
FC Istiklol midfielder Manuchekhr Dzhalilov scored four times as Tajikistan secured a comfortable 5-0 win over the Bangladeshis in Dushanbe in the preliminary rounds of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals. But Fuzaylov is taking nothing for granted ahead of their meeting with the side they also drew 1-1 with in Dhaka thanks earlier in the campaign thanks to a late equaliser from Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev (pictured).
“We have prepared well for the match,” he said. “Our training camp was very good and the players understand how important this game is. It is the play-off stage and we have to qualify.
“Our target is to win and to progress to the group stage of the qualifying round. We expect a tough match, it will not be easy against Bangladesh. We respect this team.
“Our opponent will also be trying to achieve a positive result. They have prepared for this match for a very long time, so we should be careful. The game will be difficult, but we have to play our football.”
Bangladesh go into the game having not won in their last three games, with their most recent win coming in a 4-2 victory over Sri Lanka in a friendly in January. That success was followed by a draw with Nepal, a friendly loss against the United Arab Emirates and an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Jordan in the most recent round of combined qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup and the FIFA World Cup.
“We have to respect Tajikistan,” said Bangladesh’s Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruijf. “They are playing at home and they are a strong opponent.
“Our preparation has been good. We worked very hard and I hope we can get a good result tomorrow. Tajikistan have some good level players who are playing in foreign countries like Russia, but we will give our best in the field tomorrow.
“My plan is to develop Bangladesh football and we are working on it. Football has been progressing in recent years. We have made positive changes there. The most important thing for us to play and to develop our game, not just the result.”
Photo: AFP