Nanjing: Becamex Binh Duong are “in good spirits and ready to fight” according to coach Nguyen Thanh Son as the Vietnam champions look to keep their AFC Champions League hopes alive against China’s Jiangsu FC on Wednesday.
Binh Duong beat then Group E leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from Korea Republic 3-2 at home earlier this month to claim a first win of the campaign and now sit just a point behind third place Jiangsu heading into the penultimate round of fixtures.
But despite also drawing 1-1 at home to the Chinese Super League side at the start of the campaign, Binh Duong would be eliminated should Thanh Son’s side lose at the Olympic Sports Center.
“Some of our players are absent due to personal reasons, so we only have 19 players who have travelled here. But we are in good spirits and ready to fight for a good game,” said Binh Duong coach Thanh Son.
“It will be a very crucial match for us and we will keep our focus. The first encounter we drew 1-1. Jiangsu had very good foreign players and Chinese ones so we have to give our best.
“We drew with Jiangsu 1-1 and beat Jeonbuk at 3-2 both at home and the weather can be a crucial factor. A Korean team came and played in a hot and humid place, it must be very difficult for them to settle in. In the meantime, we are very good at quick counterattacks based on a good defence which is a good tactic for us.
“We've been here for two days and haven't found the weather to be any problem for us. We should be fine with the climate, but you never know what will happen in football.”
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Jiangsu can neither seal qualification or be eliminated on Wednesday, but with table-topping FC Tokyo from Japan entertaining Jeonbuk,Dan Petrescu’s side can strengthen their positon ahead of next month’s final round of fixtures.
“Tomorrow it will be our last group match at home, so we have to fight for a win. It will not be easy for us to win in Korea in the last round, so this round we have to win,” said Petrescu, who will be without defender Li Ang due to suspension.
“Our opponent won against Jeonbuk in the last round, so they are confident. It is going to be difficult for us, but we are at home and we have to play at our best.
“We have considered the opponent's fast counterattack tactic in our preparation. We hope to score as early as possible through set-pieces or individual player's abilities, in addition to the front line team work. We expect early goals to break their counterattack strategy.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com