Sriwijaya FC’s chances of reaching the Asian Champions League knockout phase are remote, but remote does not mean that it’s impossible.
Having suffered two heavy defeats, the Indonesian double winner faces its toughest test yet as it travels to face defending ACL champion Gamba Osaka at Expo ‘70 Stadium on Wednesday.
Regardless of the odds, Sriwijaya head coach Rahmad Darmawan said his side will complete its first continental campaign with dignity.
“I know we only have a slight chance to make it into the next round. And we face the toughest battle against the defending champion, Gamba Osaka, at its home ground,” Rahmad said. “But we have a serious intention to cause a big surprise by, at least, holding them to a draw and taking a point home.”
Just like the club’s trip to Jinan, China, for its March 17 match against Shandong Luneng, cold weather could be a factor. Arriving early could have helped the players adjust to the 17-degree temperatures, but financial considerations kept the team from leaving for Osaka until Sunday.
“I wish we could have arrived earlier, but I have to consider the club's financial burden,” the coach said. “I hope the players can adjust themselves quite quickly to the weather.”
Sriwijaya will receive a lift as first choice goalkeeper Ferry Rotinsulu returns to the squad. He is still nursing a knee injury, though, so Rahmad will keep faith with Indonesian under-23 goalkeeper Dede Sulaiman.
The South Sumatra-based club is last in Group F, having lost 4-2 at home to FC Seoul and 5-0 at Shandong. After its trip to Japan, it hosts Gamba on April 21 before rounding out group play at Seoul on May 5 and hosting Shandong on May 20.
In Wednesday’s other Group F match, Shandong hosts FC Seoul at the Shandong Sports Center in Jinan.
While its Sumatra neighbor struggles to make its way in the Champions League, PSMS Medan will attempt to continue its continental success when it hosts V.B. of the Maldives today at Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang, South Sumatra.
New PSMS head coach Rudy Keltjes said he had little information on the visitors.
“I have no idea about the Maldives club at all. I met them at the press conference, and I could tell they have big and strong players,” the club’s fifth coach this season said on Monday. “I know they're just behind us, but we can't take them for granted.”
Rudy took over for interim coach Liestiadi last week. He said he would field his best lineup, including goalkeeper Markus Horison, who was benched against Deltras Sidoarjo after a shaky performance in PSMS’s 2-2 Indonesian Super League draw with PSM Makassar.
“Yes, I will put Markus back in goal. He's ready to get back into action,” he said. “But I still have a handicap as we don't have good goal-getters.”
PSMS is second in Group F with three points after its 3-1 defeat of Malaysian side Johor FC on March 17. V.B., which opened group play with a 0-0 draw at Johor, is third with one point.
After today’s fixtures, PSMS travels to Male’s National Stadium on April 21 to play V.B.
Hong Kong’s South China FC, which has already won 3-0 at home against PSMS and 2-1 away to V.B., hosts Johor today at Mongkok Stadium.Source: thejakartaglobe.com
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