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Beoungket Angkor encounter a juggling act - JDT's Ismail Ibrahim


BY        ZULHILMI ZAINAL       Follow on Twitter


Ahead of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT's) must-win away AFC Cup group match against Cambodia's Beoungket Angkor, the Southern Tigers assistant head coach Ismail Ibrahim has revealed that the encounter will be a juggling act for his side.

JDT, currently second-placed in Group F, need to win against Beoungket in order to have a chance to retake the top spot from Philippines' Global FC, but they also have another do-or-die mission in their next match.

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This Sunday, the Southern Tigers will host rivals the Tok Gajah for their second leg FA Cup quarter-final match, seeking to overturn a 3-1 scoreline from the first leg.

Although they will take to the pitch on Wednesday evening wanting to win, Ismail admitted that the squad selection will require a carefully-planned balancing act, with Sunday's match against Pahang in mind.

"Tomorrow's (Wednesday) match is a vital game for us. We need three points so the mission tomorrow is we must win. Hopefully tomorrow night the boys will play 100% to get three points.

"The problem is we have a tough match after tomorrow's match, in Johor Bahru, the FA Cup quarter-final match against Pahang, our rivals.

"We have to focus on dividing (the squad) into two teams from tomorrow so we can beat Pahang in the FA Cup with a strong team.

"We must balance (it). Tomorrow also a strong team, and on Sunday also we have to prepare a strong team," revealed Ismail in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

"We are ahead and we're not coming back!" - Mora

REPORT: Pahang 3 JDT 1

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