Warriors try to catch Kashima by the Antlers

W.Ng
info@sleague.com

As they head into their match at Jalan Besar on Tuesday night in search of their first ever AFC Champions League point, SAFFC know that they will have their work cut out against defending J-League champions Kashima Antlers.

The Warriors performed admirably in the first ACL game to be played on Singaporean turf to limit Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings to a 2-0 victory with Shahril Jantan particularly outstanding between the sticks, but the Koreans left half their first-team squad at home on that occasion and the consensus is that a larger scoreline looks to be on the cards given that nearly the full squad of the six-time J-League champions has made the trip from Japan.

The Mighty Herd of Ibaraki have had a largely indifferent start to the season: following a 2-0 opening day victory against Urawa Red Diamonds, the Antlers were torn to shreds in an ignominious 4-1 defeat by the Bluewings in their first ACL Group G game.

A 2-1 defeat to Albirex Niigata in the J-League was to follow, before Japan’s most successful club bounced back with three wins on the trot to surge back up to second in the table.

SAFFC, who also lie second in their domestic league, have themselves had a March to forget.

The 2-0 defeat to Suwon aside, the Warriors let slip a 2-0 half-time lead against the previously winless Woodlands Wellington to lose 3-2, and the winners of the last three S.League titles went on to lose 3-1 to the impressive Gombak United by the time the month was up in a match that saw SAFFC give up not only the three points but also leadership of the S.League table.

They will be without John Wilkinson -- the national midfielder's rib injury kept him out of his side's clash with Gombak United, and the 29-year-old will miss out once again -- while Japanese defender Kenji Arai is doubtful with an injured ankle.

Warriors coach Richard Bok identified Brazilian forward Marquinhos, the J.League's Most Valuable Player and its top scorer of 2008, as well as Mitsuo Ogasawara, who returned to the Antlers in 2007 after a spell with Italian outfit Messina, as Kashim'a greatest attacking threats.

“The whole Kashima Antlers team is very good and of high quality. Marquinhos is one dangerous player we have to look out while Mitsuo Ogasawara is very experienced.

“I am satisfied with the team’s attitude and commitment in the two games we have played so far and preparation for this game has been good for tomorrow night.”

Suwon coach Cha Bum-Kun was less than impressed with the the Jalan Besar Stadium's artificial turf last time out, and Kashima's Brazilian coach Oswaldo de Oliveira, who has led them to the J.League championship for the last two seasons and earned himself the J.League Manager of the Year award in each of the two seasons in the process, expressed his concern about the pitch ahead of the game.

“We want to qualify for the next stage, so we will play with the best team we have available.

“Playing in the artifical turf (at Jalan Besar) is different from natural grass. I hope we will adapt to the surface quickly, then we can play our game tomorrow night.

We have to worry about our own games with SAFFC first. It will be pointless to think of Suwon and Shanghai if we do not our job against SAFFC.”

The Brazilian has opted to leave the on-form Shinzo Koroki, who has grabbed last-minute winners in each of his side's last two league outings against Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kyoto Purple Sanga, in Japan for this tie.

“I have five forwards and (whoever I select) it’s my choice. In the right moment, (Koroki) will be back.”

Suwon also seemed to struggle with the climatic conditions when they visited Singapore, but it is a factor that Antlers custodian Hitoshi Sogahata insists that his side will take in their stride.

“The weather in Singapore is very different from Japan. It is humid but we are pretty acclimatized after training this morning. We are confident of performing once we are used to the weather.”