YANGON (8 Oct 2012) – With hosts Myanmar almost confirming their place in the final round of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 following two wins out of two, the team that will win the runners-up spot will be a toss-up between Laos, Timor Leste and Brunei.
Cambodia are in a precarious position after two losses in their first two matches of the qualifying round and with matches against Brunei (9 Oct) and then hosts Myanmar (11 Oct) coming up, it is tough to see them making the passage.
“We will try our best to win the last two matches but it will be tough,” said Cambodian chief coach Hok Sochetra after the team’s 1-0 loss to Laos last night.
“I made the mistake of not training in the afternoon. In Kuala Lumpur, we played all our friendlies at night. It was my mistake and it is something that I will have to learn for the future.
“For tomorrow, our game will be in the afternoon (against Brunei), so it will be another tough encounter for my boys.”
With Brunei having the day off yesterday, it will at least allow them the chance to recuperate somewhat from the heat that is prevalent in all afternoon matches.
Brunei coach Kwon Oh Son said that he is well aware of the heat and it is for that reason he has been training a lot in the afternoon.
“The heat is tremendous but we are adjusting to it,” added On Son. “We showed that we can be competitive and it is for that reason we must beat Cambodia next to make sure that we have a chance into the next round.
“Timor Leste and Laos will give us a good fight so we will see what happens.”
For Laos, they must have missed talented striker Lamnao Singto last night as the team was not only lacking a clinical finisher but also a general capable of leading the team on the field. And while Khampheng Sayavuthi tried to fill in the shoes left vacant by Lamnao, who is out with an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury, being not 100% fit himself meant that it was always going to be a struggle.
But as Kokichi Kimura, the chief coach of Laos, pointed out the team will just have to rely on teamwork more than anything else especially when they will be up against a physically stronger Timor Leste side next.
“Timor have good individual players but tactics not so much,” said Kokichi. “They are dangerous as individuals so that is why we have to play as a unit and get the better of them. It will be a tough match for sure.”
With Timor Leste still licking their wounds from the 2-1 loss they suffered against Myanmar, the game against Laos will be anything but tame. Timor coach Emerson Alcantara said that the team will have to minimise mistakes if they want to get into the next round.
“We still have the opportunity to make the final round but to do that we must not make mistakes like we did against Myanmar,” added Emerson.
AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012
Qualifying Round
– Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor Leste
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STANDINGS
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
| MYANMAR |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
+2 |
6 |
| TIMOR LESTE |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
+3 |
3 |
| LAOS |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
+1 |
3 |
| BRUNEI |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
| CAMBODIA |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
-5 |
0 |
