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."
The French goalkeeper has been a hero between the sticks for Spurs, the team with the best defensive record in the division. He believes that Spurs need to believe in order to achieve.
BELIEVE | MATCH PROMO | AJAX V SPURS (UEFA Champions League
Sport betting is a phenomenon that is quickly gripping Kenya. A university student, matatu tout, young professional, boda boda guy, retiree and watchman are all united in anxiety and joy or sorrow depending on the outcome of a sporting event for which they placed a bet on.
Rescuers ended their search on Thursday for the plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala, which disappeared over the English Channel three days ago, after saying there was little
Football: British rescuers end search for missing plane
Football: Everton dish out 4-0 thrashing to awful Manchester United to dim their top-four EPL hopes, Football News & Top Stories April 21, 2019 Gilead's NASH drug fails to meet late-stage study goal
Asian markets muted on sluggish growth - theworldnews.net
Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points
Moise Kean puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title - Daily Nation
Warnock hails Cardiff's heart as Bluebirds win again for Sala February 9, 2019 by Football Paradise Staff Reporter 0 Neil Warnock praised his Cardiff players for paying tribute to the late Emiliano Sala with their vital 2-1 victory at Southampton.
Warnock proud of Cardiff response to Sala tragedy at Arsenal
SINGAPORE, 2 MAY 2019 - The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) today unveiled Mr Joseph Palatsides as the man to guide Singapore football forward in his new role of Technical Director. The Australian, whose appointment took effect yesterday (1 May), was presented at a press conference on Thursday afternoon at Jalan Besar Stadium.
Football: New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides aims
Champions League final: Jurgen Klopp reveals Pep Guardiola called him to congratulate Liverpool on beating Spurs Manchester City manager was one of the first to congratulate Klopp following the 2-0 victory over Tottenham in Madrid after their season-long Premier League battle Load more
Liverpoolfc-blog (@LFC_Blog) | Twitter
Late Ronaldo goal foils Torino. The match was being played one day before the 70th anniversary of the Superga air disaster which killed 18 Torino players and officials, wiping out the most
Football: Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph. It was Liverpool's first Champions League triumph since their incredible comeback against Milan in 2005 and, while
Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph
Champions League final may 'mess' with England: Gareth Southgate Description: Southgate's squad for this month's European Championship qualifiers has 13 players from the four clubs, including Spurs striker Harry Kane, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and City winger Raheem Sterling.
Southgate frustrated by Champions League fixture 'mess
