SINGAPORE - Tampines Rovers could seal passage to the Asean zone semi-finals of the AFC Cup with a win over Yangon United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday (May 1), but Stags head coach Kadir Yahaya has warned his charges to be wary of their Myanmarese opponents.
Tampines lead Group F with 10 points, three ahead of Vietnam's Ha Noi FC. Cambodian side Nagaworld and Yangon have three points apiece, but Nagaworld are third ahead of Yangon because of a better head-to-head record. Each team have played four matches.
Yangon are all but out of the running for a place for the knock-off stages - they will not win Group F and are unlikely to finish as the best second-placed team among the three Asean groups - which makes them a threat, according to Kadir.
At the pre-game media conference at the Corpthorne King's Hotel on Tuesday, the former Singapore international said: "They have nothing to lose, and so the danger we are facing is that they are playing with no objective.
"They can attack at will, and for us it is important to remain calm, and keep our shape and composure."
The caution that Kadir is showing comes after his team left it till late before beating Nagaworld 4-2 in their last AFC Cup game on April 17. The Stags were expected to rout the visitors, but were held at 1-1 until the dying minutes.
"We expected their (Nagaworld's) fast counter attacks, and there were some lapses in concentration on our part which resulted in them equalising (to make it 1-1)," said Kadir, who added that his team's experienced stars like Khairul Amri and Daniel Bennett would be key against Yangon.
"Credit to the players, they kept fighting and eventually we got the goals and result we wanted."
Tampines are hoping for some respite in the AFC Cup after a poor run in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), where they are winless in their last four games .
Kadir believes that squad rotation - essential when competing in the AFC Cup - affects the team's consistency, and pointed to how Home United also suffered domestically during their run to the Asean zone crown in 2018, and how the Protectors posted stronger results in the SPL after the group stage of the AFC Cup.
Home won just two of their first seven SPL games last term, but then won 10 of their next 17 matches to finish second.
Yangon coach Myo Min Tun said he is expecting a tough night for his charges, especially with first-choice goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Htet (illness) and Guinean striker Sekou Sylla (suspension) out for the game.
"Tampines have many good and skilful individual players, like the two wingers (Ryutaro Megumi and Jordan Webb)," noted the 35-year-old, who scored for Myanmar against Singapore in the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup.
"Tomorrow will be very difficult for us, but we will do our best to challenge and show our level and our team's playing style."
Victory over Man City would be biggest FA Cup shock ever, says Newport boss Flynn The League Two club have beaten Leeds, Leicester and Middlesbrough in the competition in the last two seasons.
Victory over Man City would be biggest FA Cup shock ever
LONDON - Raheem Sterling's hat-trick in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Watford lifted the champions four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Tottenham Hotspur's challenge faltered again with a 2-1 loss at Southampton on Saturday.
Football: Man City surge clear through Sterling as Spurs suffer
Zinedine Zidane allays fears over Cristiano Ronaldo injury final later this month.The club's all-time record goalscorer was replaced at half-time during Sunday's 2-2 Clasico draw with
Cristiano Ronaldo provides injury update after limping out of
What is another word for high-stakes gambler? Need synonyms for high-stakes gambler?Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.
Gambler's stakes -- Crossword clue | Crossword Nexus
We're not favourites against Germany: Van Dijk
Jurgen Klopp has vowed that Liverpool will remain positive as they battle for the Premier League title despite a wobble that has enabled Manchester City to seize the initiative. Liverpool's destiny is no longer in their own hands after a goalless draw in Sunday's Merseyside derby allowed Pep Guardiola's City to regain top spot with a one
Liverpool staying positive despite blip, says Klopp
Need To Stay Focused, Warns Coach The Vodafone Fijian Women's football team and New ZeaÂland have qualified to the OFC Women's Nations Cup semi-finals despite facing each other in their final pool clash tomorrow.
High School Xtra: This week's student athletes | High School
Chelsea collapsed to a 4-0 thrashing at Bournemouth as the Premier League's supposed lesser lights continued to cause mischief at the top end of the table. Liverpool, seeking a first title since 1990, have still increased the gap over City from four points to five but it was night of jitters at a freezing Anfield.
Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse - omanobserver.om
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri By superliga On Jun 5, 2019 0 London (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri gave the strongest hint yet that he wishes to return to Italy and probably take the Juventus job by saying he misses his friends and elderly parents.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Maurizio Sarri
(REUTERS) - Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending a member of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship (second-tier) match on Friday (Jan 11).. Read
From Bielsa With Love! Leeds manager admits sending spy to Derby
Pep Guardiola welcomed Gabriel Jesus's return to form as the Brazilian struck twice in a 3-1 win over Everton as Manchester City leapfrogged Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League.
Jesus fires as Man City snatch top spot from Liverpool | Free
It's hard not to feel a little bad for Spurs, though, and wonder how this match would've played out if not for that pivotal early call against them that, as their fans suspected, proved too
"All Cried Out" but NOT Giving Up! đ - YouTube
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen