Manila: Kaya FC Coach Joel Villarino is confident his Group F leaders can get the result they need against Hong Kong’s Kitchee to ensure a place in the AFC Cup Round of 16 at the first time of asking when the sides meet at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Tuesday.
The continental debutants are the surprise pace-setters in the group with nine points from four matches, with former semi-finalists Kitchee two points further back.
And having recorded three successive wins following their 1-0 opening loss toTuesday’s opponents, Villarino’s side know that a draw with Kitchee would be enough to see them
“It’s an important game for us if we want to qualify to the next round and finish on top of the group,” said Kaya FC coach Joel Villarino. “We have a solid game plan and our focus is on this match. We don't want to disappoint our fans at home.”
“Now we know we have the ability to compete at this level, we just have to use the momentum we built up over the past few games. We learned so much from our first game against Kitchee and now we are able to adapt.
“Tomorrow is not going to be different from the last three games. We will definitely have to go out and show 100 percent to get a result because Kitchee is a type of team that can punish mistakes.”
Although a win for Tuesday’s visitors cannot alone guarantee their progression, as they would also need results to go their way in the tie between Singapore’s Balestier Khalsa and New Radiant of the Maldives, achieving the double over Kaya would edge Kitchee closer to a fifth consecutive appearance in the last 16.
“The first concern is the weather. We’re not used to playing in this weather because of most of our AFC Cup games are at night,” said Kitchee coach Alex Chu.
“I don’t want my players to waste energy. We will be patient, we will keep the ball a lot. That’s our style. We will try to save our energy and take our chances.”
“Kaya have improved so much in the past three games. They play with a good attitude, they are very disciplined and they play fast.”
In Wednesday’s other Group F encounter, Balestier host New Radiant at Jalan Besar Stadium with both sides needing to secure a vital win to remain in contention for a place in the Round of 16.
“Everything is in our hands. We need to depend on ourselves to win both remaining games to go through to the next round,” said Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic, who will be without suspended forward Miroslav Kristic.
“We need to put pressure on New Radiant from the beginning. We will be using more attacking players who can give us the creativity we need in the final third.
“Jamil Ali will start the game, as will Fadhil Noh who will replace Kristic up front.”
Coach Iordan Stoykov, meanwhile, will take his New Radiant side into the tie seeking a first win of the campaign having recorded two draws and two defeats to leave themselves propping up the group.
And the Maldivians will also be without first choice goalkeeper Sulemana Abu after his sending off in the 2-0 loss to Kitchee earlier this month.
“In the first game at home against Balestier, we created a lot of chances, but we could only draw in the end,” said Stoykov, whose side lost 3-2 to Maziya Sports & Recreation Club in their domestic season opener last Tuesday.
“I am not worried by the loss to Maziya, as we are beginning to build up a new team.
“Sulemana Abu is a very good goalkeeper, but we are confident in the abilities of his stand-in Fairooz Ahmed.”
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