MTU’s home form concerns Karamah’s Kwid

Bangkok: Al Karamah coach Mohammad Kwid conceded Muangthong’s formidable home form will make them difficult to beat at Thunderdome Stadium on Tuesday but is confident his side possesses the strength to seal their passage to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup.

The 2009 runners-up claimed a 1-0 win in their quarter-final first-leg encounter in Syria last week to give them a slender advantage heading in the game.

Muangthong have made their home stadium something of a fortress in their domestic league this season and have won their last nine successive games there while conceding just one goal.

“The match will be very difficult. I regret that we did not score more in the first leg,” said Kwid.

“Muangthong are a very strong team, it will be a very different and more difficult game here in Bangkok.

“Muangthong rarely lose at home and are very organised with a good coach and great players.

“But I believe that our past experience in both the AFC Cup and the AFC Champions League will carry us through to the next round.”

Kwid singled out Muangthong midfield dynamo Datsakorn Thonglao as the main player they have to watch.


“Their whole team has quality but he is someone we will pay extra attention to as he has the ability to change the game,” he added.

“Whatever the result I am sure the players have what it takes to qualify for the next round.”

Muangthong coach René Desaeyere was reserved on his team’s chances and acknowledged the Thailand Premier League champions will have to be at their very best to defeat Al Karamah.

“To go through we will have to have a very good day,” said the Belgian tactician.

“For the first leg many of our players were not fit. Our players have a lot to prove in this leg.

“The Syrian team is very strong as they play as a unit without star players. They will run and fight for 90 minutes.

“To get something from this match we either need to play with the same mentality or play with more skill than them all over the pitch.”

On his match strategy Desaeyere remarked: “We play with the same formation in all competitions. We start with three up front but there will be some changes to our tactics.

“We need to be more attacking to get anything out of the match but we must protect ourselves against counterattacks.

“This game will not be won on the tactics board but my players on the pitch.”

Source: www.the-afc.com