However, the home team Laxmi Bank Three Star Club that takes on Taiwan Power Company (TPC) of Chinese Taipei in the day’s later match at the Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu, has an advantage over the others. A draw will be sufficient for the home team to progress to the finals irrespective of the outcome of another match. Three Star leads the table with four points, two ahead of second and third placed TPC and Abahani Limited of Bangladesh. Erchim FC of Mongolia lie bottom with one point.[break]
If Erchim FC beats Abahani in Saturday’s first match, Three Star would qualify on the basis of head-to-head record even if it loses to TPC later in the day. On the other hand, Erchim would be guaranteed a finals berth only if it wins its last match and TPC, the 2011 Champion, does not defeat Three Star. The top two teams of the group will qualify for the final rounds.
Meanwhile, victories in their respective matches could send Abahani and TPC through to the final rounds. However, if both the matches end in draws, the second team to qualify behind Three Star will be determined on the basis of goal difference.
Despite being in a relatively comfortable position, Three Star coach Pradip Humagain is eyeing victory in the last match. The last time these two sides had met was during the first edition of President’s Cup which had ended in a 1-1 draw.
“I am not concerned with the result of the first edition and we will play our natural match aiming for win,” said Humagain. Regarding TPC, Humagain said, “TPC has been putting up a good performance and plays attacking football. We have got the plans to play with them.”
Coach Humagain is also optimistic that his side will become the first team to qualify for the next round after 2008 as no team from Nepal has made to the final rounds since then. “We can hope to see a Nepali team in the final rounds this time,” said Humagain.
TPC coach Chen Kui-Jen was cautious regarding their match against the home team. “All teams have equal chances of making it to the next round, whoever grabs the opportunity could qualify. We must beat Nepal to qualify,” said Kui-Jen. “Nepal is likely to have advantage as the home team but we won’t be afraid as we are the 2011 champions.”
Bangladesh assistant coach Amalesh Sen has also set his sights on victory. “Actually we are hopeful of victory,” said Sen, who rated Erchim as the weakest team of the group.
Meanwhile, Erchim coach D Batnasan still sees a chance for his side’s qualification. “Though we still have a chance, the situation is not favorable for us due to our previous results,” said Batnasan, whose full-strength team will return in the final match. In the second match against Three Star, TPC was without its two key players as its regular captain was suspended for a match and a forward was injured.
Batnasan rated Bangladesh as a strong team. “Abahani is a strong team and has a very good defense. We have tactics to play against them and will come up with offensive style of play.”
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