CAUTION Indonesian strikers must be contained
Malaysia’s Yong Kuong Yong (back) gets the better of Chhin Chhoeun of Cambodia on Sunday. Malaysia won 4-1.
Malaysia will try to stifle Indonesia's free-flowing attack in a bid to get the one point they need to qualify for the semi-finals on Thursday.
Coach Ong Kim Swee will be putting emphasis on defence during the team's training sessions today and tomorrow as a draw will be enough to send Malaysia through at Singapore's expense.
Indonesia's 3-1 win over nine-man Thailand on Sunday has put the hosts into the semi-finals with Singapore, three points behind Malaysia, now needing to beat Thailand, overcome a goal difference of five and hope Indonesia beat Malaysia to have any chance of advancing.
While the mathematical situation favours Malaysia, Kim Swee is only focused on what his team have to do.
"Indonesia will want to win to finish top of the group and they have got a very dangerous strike force. My emphasis in training will be on how to stifle them. They have their weaknesses too and we will find ways to exploit them," said Kim Swee who declined to elaborate.
As Singapore play Thailand before Malaysia take to the field, Kim Swee will know by kick-off time what result would be most desirable.
"I cannot put a lot of hope on Thailand beating Singapore since they are already eliminated. At the moment, our fate is in our hands. We don't want to be dependent on other teams.
"We can manage to find the point we need on our own. We will play according to what we want," said Kim Swee, who pronounced his squad injury and suspension-free.
The only concern is that rightback Mahalli Jasuli is on a yellow card and his over-exuberance at times can prove costly, which was why he was taken off at half-time in Sunday's 4-1 win over Cambodia.
No comments:
Post a Comment