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2010 AFC Challenge Cup: Day Six Preview - Central Asians Battle It Out & India To Test Reserves
Might Koreans await a win-less India side, while the Central Asians play a virtual semi final...
20-Feb-2010 11:16:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal & Atishay Agarwal
Group B Qualification Scenario
Points GD
1. DPR Korea 4 +4
2. Turkmenistan 4 +1
3. Kyrgyzstan 3 -3
4. India U-23 0 -2
DPR Korea - Already through to the next round, thanks to their superior goal difference.
Turkmenistan - Need only a draw to go through to the semis, as they are one point above Kyrgyzstan. A defeat would send them out.
Kyrgyzstan - The lowest ranked team at the tournament could go through to the semis, but only a win against Turkmenistan would do for them. It's a simple scenario, and any other result would see them eliminated.
India U-23 - The defending champions are already out of the tournament, but could still finish third in the group if they beat Korea, and Kyrgyzstan lose against Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan - Kyrgyzstan
The two Central Asian neighbours go head to head with the Turkmen only needing a point to make the last four while Kyrgyzstan must win.
Despite having problems to cope with the hot and humid conditions, Turkmenistan have done very well to stay unbeaten after the first two games. First they held World Cup participants DPR Korea to a hard fought 1-1 draw and then in the last game the Turkmen did enough to edge past India’s Under-23 side which means they only need a draw in their last game to go through to the semis.
Yazguly Hojageldiyev’s side have been very well organized in both their matches which made it very difficult for both Korea and India to create clear cut chances. Going forward they haven’t been the most attractive team but in striker Mamedaly Karadanov, who has scored two in two games, they possess one of the best goalscorers of the tournament. Turkmenistan will come into this as favourites but they must not underestimate their neighbours and produce the same level of performance which they did in the first two games.
After beating India in their first game, Kyrgyzstan were expected to put up some sort of a fight against DPR Korea but the Central Asians were totally outclassed in all departments as they got thrashed 0-4. That result makes this game a must win for Kyrgyzstan as anything less will send them back home. There was no positive to take from the game against Korea but coach Anarbek will be encouraging his players to not lose hope because they are only three points away from the semi-finals.
The likes of forward Anton Zemlianuhin and midfielder Sergey Kaleutin will have to step up as Kyrgyzstan do need match winners for this crucial tie. The onus will be on them to score early and that could actually suit them as their strength lies in attack. Kyrgyzstan have a massive task on their hands but they do have the potential to achieve it.
Turkmenistan do not have any injuries or suspensions so there is likely to very few changes in the starting eleven. Kyrgyzstan will be missing their captain Aitor Bokoev yet again as the midfielder earned an additional one match ban for his straight red card against India.
It is very obvious that Turkmenistan will be happy to defend in numbers as they only need a point but coach Hojageldiyev might just look to kill the tie by scoring an early goal. Kyrgyzstan need a very good all round performance to win this so coach Anarbek needs to get his strategy right. Since the two teams know each other so well it is likely to be a very close contest but only one Central Asian nation can make the semis.
India U-23 - DPR Korea
Three days. That's all it took for all Indian dreams to evaporate, as two defeats in two group matches sent the Men in Blue to the bottom of the table, not offering even a mathematical chance of qualifying following their third and final game against DPR Korea.
The match against Turkmenistan saw an improved performance by the U-23 side, as Sukhwinder Singh ringed in a few changes following a slightly immature performance against Kyrgyzstan. Debabrata Roy was drafted in at left back instead of Robert, but the Mahindra defender had an outing to forget, conceding a penalty and then later being sent off.
Jeje Lalpekhlua started as well, but India still couldn't get their game going up front. Most of the chances came about from the edge of the box or outside, and none were finished off as well. Sukhwinder is likely to give the rest of the squad players a game against the Koreans, who are already through to the next round.
The tournament favourites had a slow start, drawing against Turkmenistan, but came back ever so strongly against Kyrgyzstan, thrashing them 4-0 in a virtuoso performance. That win ensured their passage into the semis, so the tie will probably not have much of an edge to it, with both sides not having much to play for.
However, the world-cuppers will want to make a statement and top the group, and they won't get a better opportunity, playing against India's U-23 reserves. The Koreans are likely to rest 2-3 players, but will want to keep the momentum going, as India will in all probability look to defend, and get any kind of a result. A Korean win, though, looks by far the likeliest result.
It's been a hard tournament for the U-23 side in Sri Lanka, and in many ways a bit of a reality check, but they will come back stronger and wiser, and better prepared when they don the senior team's colours in the future.
Points GD
1. DPR Korea 4 +4
2. Turkmenistan 4 +1
3. Kyrgyzstan 3 -3
4. India U-23 0 -2
DPR Korea - Already through to the next round, thanks to their superior goal difference.
Turkmenistan - Need only a draw to go through to the semis, as they are one point above Kyrgyzstan. A defeat would send them out.
Kyrgyzstan - The lowest ranked team at the tournament could go through to the semis, but only a win against Turkmenistan would do for them. It's a simple scenario, and any other result would see them eliminated.
India U-23 - The defending champions are already out of the tournament, but could still finish third in the group if they beat Korea, and Kyrgyzstan lose against Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan - Kyrgyzstan
The two Central Asian neighbours go head to head with the Turkmen only needing a point to make the last four while Kyrgyzstan must win.
Despite having problems to cope with the hot and humid conditions, Turkmenistan have done very well to stay unbeaten after the first two games. First they held World Cup participants DPR Korea to a hard fought 1-1 draw and then in the last game the Turkmen did enough to edge past India’s Under-23 side which means they only need a draw in their last game to go through to the semis.
Yazguly Hojageldiyev’s side have been very well organized in both their matches which made it very difficult for both Korea and India to create clear cut chances. Going forward they haven’t been the most attractive team but in striker Mamedaly Karadanov, who has scored two in two games, they possess one of the best goalscorers of the tournament. Turkmenistan will come into this as favourites but they must not underestimate their neighbours and produce the same level of performance which they did in the first two games.
After beating India in their first game, Kyrgyzstan were expected to put up some sort of a fight against DPR Korea but the Central Asians were totally outclassed in all departments as they got thrashed 0-4. That result makes this game a must win for Kyrgyzstan as anything less will send them back home. There was no positive to take from the game against Korea but coach Anarbek will be encouraging his players to not lose hope because they are only three points away from the semi-finals.
The likes of forward Anton Zemlianuhin and midfielder Sergey Kaleutin will have to step up as Kyrgyzstan do need match winners for this crucial tie. The onus will be on them to score early and that could actually suit them as their strength lies in attack. Kyrgyzstan have a massive task on their hands but they do have the potential to achieve it.
Turkmenistan do not have any injuries or suspensions so there is likely to very few changes in the starting eleven. Kyrgyzstan will be missing their captain Aitor Bokoev yet again as the midfielder earned an additional one match ban for his straight red card against India.
It is very obvious that Turkmenistan will be happy to defend in numbers as they only need a point but coach Hojageldiyev might just look to kill the tie by scoring an early goal. Kyrgyzstan need a very good all round performance to win this so coach Anarbek needs to get his strategy right. Since the two teams know each other so well it is likely to be a very close contest but only one Central Asian nation can make the semis.
India U-23 - DPR Korea
Three days. That's all it took for all Indian dreams to evaporate, as two defeats in two group matches sent the Men in Blue to the bottom of the table, not offering even a mathematical chance of qualifying following their third and final game against DPR Korea.
The match against Turkmenistan saw an improved performance by the U-23 side, as Sukhwinder Singh ringed in a few changes following a slightly immature performance against Kyrgyzstan. Debabrata Roy was drafted in at left back instead of Robert, but the Mahindra defender had an outing to forget, conceding a penalty and then later being sent off.
Jeje Lalpekhlua started as well, but India still couldn't get their game going up front. Most of the chances came about from the edge of the box or outside, and none were finished off as well. Sukhwinder is likely to give the rest of the squad players a game against the Koreans, who are already through to the next round.
The tournament favourites had a slow start, drawing against Turkmenistan, but came back ever so strongly against Kyrgyzstan, thrashing them 4-0 in a virtuoso performance. That win ensured their passage into the semis, so the tie will probably not have much of an edge to it, with both sides not having much to play for.
However, the world-cuppers will want to make a statement and top the group, and they won't get a better opportunity, playing against India's U-23 reserves. The Koreans are likely to rest 2-3 players, but will want to keep the momentum going, as India will in all probability look to defend, and get any kind of a result. A Korean win, though, looks by far the likeliest result.
It's been a hard tournament for the U-23 side in Sri Lanka, and in many ways a bit of a reality check, but they will come back stronger and wiser, and better prepared when they don the senior team's colours in the future.
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