Oliveira focuses on qualification

Kashima Antlers coach Oswaldo de Oliveira has included three strikers against SAFFC. Copyright: World Sport Group Ltd Pte 2009

KASHIMA – Kashima Antlers coach Oswaldo Oliveira will adopt an all-out attack approach for the Japanese side’s AFC Champions League Group G clash with Singapore Armed Forces on Wednesday.

Antlers, Suwon Bluewings and Shanghai Shenhua are all tied on six points after three games in the standings while SAF are bottom and are yet to register a single point.

A win on Wednesday night could help the Antlers close in on qualification while sending ACL debutants SAF to an early exit from the annual Asian club competition.

Kashima midfielder Takeshi Aoki is suspended after collecting two bookings from the previous games.
As result Oliveira is likely to make changes to his team and add more firepower to his attack by employing three forwards.

“I think our opponents will come out and play defensively,” said Oliveira. “So, there’ll be no point for us to play defensively.

“We’d like to focus on qualifying for the next round, and our aim tomorrow is to collect three points.

“That is something we’ve learned from our experience last year. We’ll do our best to make sure to achieve this.”

Left-back Toru Araiba is expected to return to the starting line-up for the first time since March 15 while South Korean Park Joo-ho is likely to take on an anchor role in midfield.

“Whether I can play will be decided by our manager, but I’m ready for the game. I hope I can do something to help our team win,” Araiba said.

SAF, who progressed to their first ACL appearance after qualifying through the playoffs, will be looking to their foreign players to help secure a positive result against Kashima.

The visitors have two former J. League players – Kenji Arai in defence and Masahiro Fukazawa in attack – and experienced forward and skipper Aleksander Duric.

Playmaker and former Thailand midfielder Therdsak Chaiman is likely to start from the bench after having suffered an injury in domestic action recently.

The visitors, who need to beat Antlers to keep their hopes alive in the tournament, are expected to play defensively.

SAF coach Richard Bok said: “It’s going to be a tough game tomorrow.

“We will probably need a miracle to win but will work hard to play a good game against Kashima Antlers.

“They are a top team in Japan but probably in Asia, too. We’ll work on our defence to make sure we do not give too much away.”