Courtesy:
The AFC.comSadaka, Salmiya battle for Nagoya berthMonday, 22 April 2013Shah Alam: Lebanese Al Sadaka started the competition with a mediocre 3-3 draw against Iraq’s Naft Al Wasat but now after a stunning 6-2 win over star-studded Al Wasl of the UAE, they are one of the favourites to book a place in the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2013 finals.
The Lebanese will be up against Kuwait’s Al Salmiya on Tuesday’s semi-final at the Panasonic Sports Complex and coach Hussein Dib believes that for his players, the Al Salmiya tie will be the biggest match in their futsal career.
“Now after doing so well in the competition, Tuesday’s semi-final and ultimate qualification is vital for Lebanese futsal,” Dib told www.the-afc.com.
“We are up against Al Salmiya who had their one eye on the semi-final before they played Al Sadd so their disappointing result against the Qatari side has nothing to do with the semis, I am sure they will be a different team on Tuesday.
“I am expecting a tough task on Tuesday but I believe if we play like how we did against Al Wasl, we will be through. We have worked very hard ahead of this competition and I hope our hard work will be rewarded,” he added.
Al Salmiya’s captain Mohammed Shehab also highlighted the importance of booking a place in the Nagoya finals.
“Last year we did brilliantly in the AFC Futsal Championship and we played in the World Cup so we need to keep moving our futsal and the next step for us, I believe, is to qualify for the Nagoya finals,” he said.
“The teams participating at the competition have more or less the same level so it does not matter whom you are playing against but the thing that matters is how you play on a given day.
“There are few niggles including myself in the team but I hope the entire squad will be ready by Tuesday. The coach decided to rest the players who were on yellow cards against Al Sadd, and Alwadi (Abdulrahman) coming back after serving one match suspension means we have the full squad at our disposal against Al Sadaka,” he added.
Tuesday's SemifinalsMatch Time Venue
Al Sadaka vs Al Salmiya 15:30 Panasonic Sports Complex
Al Sadd vs Al Wasl 19:00 Panasonic Sports Complex
Courtesy:
The AFC.comDaniel confident ahead of ‘massive’ matchMonday, 22 April 2013Shah Alam: Al Wasl Portuguese coach Rui Daniel foresees a massive semi-final match between his side and Al Sadd on Tuesday to book the ticket to the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2013 finals in Nagoya in August.
He sees the game as a West Asian derby promising high-octane action but is aware of the perils that exist that will definitely cost one of them the coveted passage to the finals in Japan.
The winners of the two semi-finals will join Chonburi Bluewave, Shenzhen Nanling and Thai Son Nam along with the respective league winners of Iran, Uzbekistan and hosts Japan in the finals to be held in Nagoya in August.
“I believe that Al Sadd and Al Wasl are the strongest sides in the competition but there are other clubs who have prepared very well,” Daniel told www.the-afc.com.
“Al Sadd are a great team with good professional players so we have to be alert with the threat throughout but I am confident that we will be a totally different unit when we play against Al Sadd.
“It’s a kind of derby when clubs from UAE and Qatar are playing in a high-stake match. We will have a day’s rest so our performance would defiantly raise in the semi-final,” said the Portuguese.
Al Sadd were comfortable winners over Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan and Al Salmiya of Kuwait in the group stages but coach Mohamed Eisa remains focused on his side’s goal in the competition.
“We came here to qualify for the finals and so far we are not qualified so there is work to be done first,” he said.
“If we look at our match against Al Salmiya, we were the comfortable winners but there are so many areas where we need to improve on. We conceded four goals to them but two of those goals could have been avoided.
“We need to strengthen our defence as Al Wasl are very tough opponents enjoying the services of the 2012 AFC Futsal Player of the Year Henmi (Rafael) and a Colombian international,” he added.
Tuesday's SemifinalsMatch Time Venue
Al Sadaka vs Al Salmiya 15:30 Panasonic Sports Complex
Al Sadd vs Al Wasl 19:00 Panasonic Sports Complex
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Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
