Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Former finalists Thailand as well as Malaysia, Lebanon and Chinese Taipei all head into Monday’s final round of fixtures in Group C with the chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship.
Coach Francisco Araujo has seen 2012 quarter-finalists Lebanon endure a mixed start to the tournament after coming from behind to beat Chinese Taipei 8-5 in their opening game on Thursday before suffering a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Malaysia on Saturday.
Lebanon now face 2012 runners-up Thailand, who have won both of their opening games, with Araujo’s side currently tied for second place alongside Malaysia and three points behind Monday’s opponents at Phu Tho Stadium.
“If we play like we played against Malaysia, I think we are going to lose by 25 goals,” said Araujo, who guided Lebanon to the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates in 2012 before losing 5-3 to Thailand.
“If we don’t play with a good attitude and intensity it is impossible to win because we are playing in a tournament where teams are very well prepared.
"From what I have seen from my team in the first two games it will be difficult to win, but we still have one match, and if we win then we can get in to the quarter-finals, so we will try to win.”
Thailand beat Malaysia 7-1 in their opening game before recording a hard-fought 5-2 win against Chinese Taipei, but the 2013 AFF Futsal Championship winners could still be eliminated should they lose to Lebanon.
“We must play to win against Lebanon,” said coach Victor Hermans.
“I feel that the players have been taking it too easy, and I have a bad feeling that we are going to be punished.
“Lebanon must also win the game so our preparation is important for this game."
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei and Malaysia will meet at Ton Duc Thang University Stadium with both sides also in contention for a place in the quarter-finals.
Malaysia currently lie in second place due to a superior head-to-head record over Lebanon following Saturday’s win.
"For the last match we have a 50/50 chance to win,” said Malaysia coach Maizal Marzuk.
"We realise that Chinese Taipei are fighters and we will train hard and maybe we will use the same style of play as we did against Lebanon to make it into the next round.”
Despite losing both of their opening games having also failed to record a single point two years ago in the UAE, Chinese Taipei still have a slim chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals should they beat Malaysia with Chang Wu-Yeh’s side just three points off the pace.
“We would still like to win the game, and if we win against Malaysia, we still have a chance to make it to the quarter-finals which will be a big achievement,” said Chinese Taipei coach Chang.
"Our players have worked hard and I think they will try their best to win."