Singapore’s most seasoned representatives in the AFC Cup will be looking to repeat their achievements of 2004 when they entertain India’s Dempo SC in their quarter-final second-leg encounter on Tuesday.
Home United represented Singapore in the competition in 2005 and 2006, but it was in the tournament’s inaugural year that the Protectors went the furthest, reaching the semi-finals.
90 minutes of football stand between them and a spot in the same stage of the Cup this year, and coach P N Sivaji says the fact that his charges are within touching distance of at least repeating history is enough to motivate them.
“In the first leg we were under tremendous pressure, especially in the second half," said the 56-year-old. "They threw everything at us and we had to deal with that pressure.
“We put in a good performance in India and we want to put in another good performance. We already have one foot in the semi finals but we want to put both our feet in there.”
Rosman Sulaiman’s all-important away goal in a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Hyderabad means his side need only shut out the Indian side’s attack to go through -- but if that first leg was anything to go by, they will have their work cut out for them.
Only stellar performances by members of the Home United rearguard limited the Indians to a single goal; national stopper Lionel Lewis was in particularly sterling form, while Sivaji’s decision to field Syed Fadhil and Tengku Mushadad in a defensive midfield paid dividends.
Foremost among the coach’s concerns will certainly be the need to contain the threat of Congolese striker Mboyo Iyomi, who notched the equaliser for Dempo in the first leg and was described by Sivaji after the match as “very strong in the air”.
Sivaji, however, intimated that his side will adopt a more offensive style of play for the game, while acknowledging the need to keep his defence watertight.
“We are not going into the tomorrow’s game playing with a defensive stance. We are going to play normally, how Home plays.
“We are going to go out there and try and win the game but we do know that 0-0 is also enough.
“We will be the marginal favourites as we have a away goal advantage and are playing at home.
“The first leg favoured Dempo and we have regrouped and have an opportunity to move to the next round. We have to take our chances up front and keep it tight at the back.
“It will be a good game.”
The Protectors, however, will be without skipper S Subramani, who broke his metatarsal in the first leg. In more uplifting news, midfielder Shi Jiayi, who missed the trip to India to get treatment for his ankle, has responded well to the treatment and is in with a chance of making an appearance.
Brazilian vice-captain Peres de Oliveira, who will assume leadership duties in the absence of Subramani, was in confident mood ahead of the match, stressing that the Bishan-based side are well-prepared to face their Indian visitors.
“Dempo are a good side and a strong team.
“We have played them last week so we know what to expect from them. We are prepared to face them.
“We are prepared mentally and our tactics are good to give us an advantage in tomorrow’s game.”
Despite the psychological advantage that the hosts will take into the match, the tie hangs very much in the balance.
It is the first quarter-final appearance for Dempo, who previously bowed out in the group stages in 2005 and 2006, and will undoubtedly be just as eager to make the last four.
To coach Armando Colaco, who played for Dempo from 1976 to 1985, the tie is still very much alive.
“The advantage now is in Home United’s hands as they have the away goal.
“But the end result will be in our hands and the outcome won’t be known till the final whistle is blown.
“We are very motivated for tomorrow’s game. We want to continue playing where we left off in the first leg.”
Colaco, however, admitted that the artificial pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium is going to further complicate what is likely to be a tricky match.
“All games in the AFC Cup quarter finals are going to be tough and this game is going to be no different. We are going to try our level best and we will be happy to if we perform to expectations.
“We will find playing on artificial grass tricky as we play on natural grass back in Goa but there is an artificial pitch where we trained before we came here to Singapore.”
The winners of the tie will face either Malaysian side Perak or Safa of Lebanon, with the Middle Easterners looking the more likely to progress at the moment, following their 2-0 win in Ipoh.
A paltry crowd of 200 or so showed up for the first leg in India, but Home United are likely to receive much stronger backing in Singapore.
W Ng
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