City to host Aizawl-Abahani AFC tie today

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 10: Aizawl FC will host Abahani Dhaka FC in their second AFC Cup 2018 home tie at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here tomorrow. The kick off time of the match is 6-30 in the evening.

Both the sides made poor start in the competition and are placed in last two positions in four-team group ‘E’. Aizawl FC lost both their earlier matches by a 1-3 margin against Radiant and Bengaluru FC respectively while Dhaka outfit lost 0-1 in both their previous games against same opponents. Rode on better goal difference Abahani are now in third place in the points table.

Abahani’s coach Saiful Bari Titu today sounded positive before the match against the former I league champion. Addressing a media gathering Titu, the former coach of Bangladesh tiol team, said,” It is a crucial match for us. We will try our best to win the game as it will keep our hope alive to move further in the competition.”

Dhaka outfit will miss Mid fielder Sohail Ra because of injury however foreigner Sunday will return into the main XI after serving one match suspension.

Meanwhile Aizawl FC coach Santosh Kashyap is little bit worried about the fatigue of his players. During the media interaction the Coach even admitted it.

“We have to play three matches in a gap of seven days and during the games we had to make long travel also. Boys are little bit tired. However we are ready for the game and I am optimistic that my boys will put a brave fight in the game and keep alive our hope.”

Kashyap also added: “We have not played bad football in the earlier games but still couldn’t avoid defeat. It’s a new team and going through the learning process. We will get another four games and still have the opportunities to qualify for the next round. However right now we want to concentrate only on tomorrow’s game.”