ACL 09: Warriors keen on Kashima cracker

The Warriors are looking forward to the visit of J-League champions Kashima Antlers on Tuesday (April 7) as they resume their AFC Champions League campaign.

The Warriors were undone in the first two games after conceding controversial penalties and they are hoping to set things right this time.

Captain Aleksandar Duric set the tone when he said: “The two penalties were harsh but I think we could play better. I wish we get at least one point or even three points in the next four games. So, watch out, Kashima.”

Midfield maverick John Wilkinson echoed Duric's sentiment, saying: "The scorelines so far are not a fair reflection of the games but we look forward to getting points from the other games.”

However, Willkinson, who has been scoring of late, is doubtful with a rib injury. Warriors' Japanese defender Kenji Arai, too, could be out with a niggling foot problem. The centreback had to be substituted by Razaleigh Khalik in the 1-3 loss to Gombak United.

On the other hand, the Warriors will welcome defender Hafiz Osman back from suspension, after his controversial red card in the 1-4 defeat to Shanghai Shenhua.

Kashima are arguably one of the strongest teams of the tournament with several internationals in its ranks such as Mitsuo Ogasawara and Masashi Motoyama.

They also have reigning J-League MVP Marquinhos who was the J-League's Golden Boot winner last year. The pony-tailed Brazilian striker possesses a powerful shot and the Warriors will need to cope with his powerful physical play.

Of late though, it has been their youngsters who are hogging the headlines.

First, 18-year-old Japanese youth international Yuya Osako. The striker, who joined Kashima from high school just this season, secured Kashima's first win in the AFC Champions League when he scored the second goal in a 2-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua last month.

Striker Shinzo Koroki, 22, also impressed in the domestic league. On Saturday (April 4), the No 13 created the equaliser for Ryuta Sasaki in the 86th minute before scoring the winner in the final minute as Kashima left it late to beat Kyoto Sanga 2-1 at home. Both of them had only come on in the second half.

It was the second time this season that Koroki had scored at the death to lift Kashima to a win. On March 22, he netted in the 89th minute to help Kashima beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1.

Tuesday's contest will also be of great significance for Warriors' Japanese midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa, who was teammates with Kashima's second-choice goalkeeper Hideaki Ozawa at J1 side Yokohama F Marinos. Masahiro was there from 1996 to 2000.

As Masahiro put it: "I'm Japanese and naturally, I'm very excited to play against Kashima who are one of the top teams in Asia.

"We may have lost the first two games, but I think we are getting more confident in each game, and I hope we can get some points."