Kuala Lumpur: It’s do or die in Groups F and G of the 2017 AFC Cup on Wednesday with top spot in both tables still up for grabs, while Group H will play out on Tuesday with Home United having already secured pole position and a place in the next round.
The three ASEAN Zone group winners and the highest-placed runner-up will advance to the Zonal Semi-finals and, with the final group match almost upon us, the stakes couldn’t be higher ahead of what is sure to be a pulsating week of action on the continent.
Group H
Yadanarbon and Than Quang Ninh will bring the three-team Group H to a close on Tuesday having seen Singapore’s Home United already claim top spot following three wins from four.
Myanmar’s Yadanarbon began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Home United but have since lost both their games on the road to make a place in the Zonal semi-finals increasingly unlikely. For the visit of Than Quang Ninh, the hosts are also without suspended trio Ye Ko Oo, Yan Paing and Thet Naing.
Vietnamese visitors Than Quang Ninh, who will welcome Mac Hong Quan back from suspension, began their tournament with a draw against Yadanarbon but then slumped to successive defeats to Home United and prop up the standings on just a solitary point.
Yadanarbon (MYA) v Than Quang Ninh (VIE)
Venue: Mandalar Thiri Stadium, Mandalay
Kick-off: May 2, 17:00 UTC+6:30
Group F
Global FC of the Philippines and 2015 AFC Cup winners Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia will battle it out for top spot in Group F as they take on already eliminated Beoungket Angkor of Cambodia and Myanmar’s Magwe FC respectively.
The scenario for Global is simple, defeat Beoungket at home and they will qualify for the Zonal semi-finals as group winners, but they will have to do so without the suspended Matthew Hartmann. The visitors, unable to call on the suspended Math Yamoin, can look back on a respectable debut campaign in which they gained a first-ever victory in the competition and need just a point to ensure third place.
Should Global fail to win, Johor would leapfrog them by claiming all three points against Magwe thanks to a superior head-to-head record against the Philippines side. But lose at home and the current best-placed runners-up in the ASEAN Zone would likely see that slip from their grasp. Amirulhadi Zainal’s booking against Beoungket keeps him out, while Htoo Htoo Aung and Muang Muang Soe are suspended for the visitors, who have Micheal Alloysius available once more.
Global FC (PHI) v Beoungket Angkor (CAM)
Venue: Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila
Kick-off: May 3, 20:35 UTC+8
Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) v Magwe FC (MYA)
Venue: Stadium Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Yunos, Johor Baru
Kick-off: May 3, 20:35 UTC+8
Group G
All four teams in Group G can still claim a top-two position as table-toppers Ceres Negros, Hanoi FC and Tampines Rovers all aim for top spot and bottom side Felda United have second place in their sights in a night that promises to keep mathematicians on their toes.
Group leaders Ceres of the Philippines will advance to the Zonal Semi-finals should they win away at Singapore’s Tampines Rovers, who would claim pole position if a home victory is coupled with Hanoi losing to Felda. Manuel Herrera is suspended for Ceres but Martin Steuble returns for the crunch tie.
Vietnam’s Hanoi host Malaysia’s Felda knowing that they will win the group should they better the result of Ceres, while Felda would leapfrog their opponents with a win and claim second place – and potentially a place in the Zonal Semi-finals – should Tampines fail to beat Ceres. The home side must make do without Hoang Vu Samson after his red card against Ceres two weeks ago, while Shukor Adan sits out for the visitors.
Hanoi FC (VIE) v Felda United (MAS)
Venue: My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi
Kick-off: May 3, 18:30 UTC+7
Tampines Rovers (SIN) v Ceres Negros (PHI)
Venue: Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Kick-off: May 3, 19:30 UTC+8
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com