YANGON (10 Oct 2012) – With Cambodia already out of contention and chief coach Hok Sochetra left wondering what went wrong, the onus is now on Laos and Brunei to provide the challenge against Timor Leste for the only available spot into the final round of the AFF Suzuki Cup next month.
With six points from two matches, hosts Myanmar are firmly in the driver’s seat even though Timor Leste currently lead the standings with the same number of points but on better goal difference.
“Yes, we are ahead but we need more in terms of performance,” said Park Sung Hwa, the chief coach of Myanmar. “No point to drop the ball when we are in the lead.”
But with the Timorese have played a game more than Myanmar meant that will have to have to pick up the full points in their last qualifying match against hosts. And they will have plenty of time to recuperate and re-strategise considering that they will have the day off tomorrow.
“It is very important for football in Timor that we make the next round,” said Emerson Alcantara, the chief coach of Timor Leste. “We have never won a single game in three qualifiers. But now, we have already won two matches. We have three days to prepare for our last game and we will be going all out.”
For Laos, their loss to Timor Leste last night has just underlined how difficult matches in these qualifiers have become over the years. The Laotian have never failed to make the final round of the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers since it was introduces in 2007.
But after picking up three points from two matches, Laos are staring at a possible failure for the first time ever.
“We have to play four games in seven days and it is for that reason, we have had to make changes to the side that played against Timor,” added Kokichi Kimura, the chief coach of Laos. “We might have lost against Timor but I felt that we played better when we won our first game (against Cambodia). Now we have to look at 100% performance for our next two matches.”
Laos’ next opponent will be Brunei, who also showed that they have made further improvements from the showing they last showed at the SEA Games last year.
Kwon Oh Son, the chief coach of Brunei, said that what will be the key to their game will be having the right recovery.
“We will analyse their game (Timor against Laos) and from there, we will form the strategy,” added Oh Son. “But having a good recovery will be important for the players.”
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 |
| TIMOR LESTE |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
+5 |
6 |
| MYANMAR |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
+2 |
6 |
| BRUNEI |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
= |
3 |
| LAOS |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
3 |
| CAMBODIA |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
-6 |
0 |
