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Kitchee SC
V
Kingfisher East Bengal
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
12th May 2015, 18:00IST
*****
The Final game of the group stage sees Indian footballing giants Kingfisher East Bengal FC travel to Hong Kong to face Kitchee SC.Kingfisher East Bengal have managed just four points from their five fixtures and have no chance of qualifying for the Knockout stages of the AFC Cup. Meanwhile Kitchee SC have acumulated ten points and a win for them could take them at the top of the group if Johor Darul Tazim loose against Belestier Khalsa FC. Both teams had to share points in the reverse fixture, played at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan ,Kolkata.
Team News and Tactical Brief:
Kitchee SC
Wang Zhenpeng will take his place in between the sticks as usual with Spanish Defender Fernando Recio partnering South Korean Kim Tae-Min in Central defence.Lo Kwan Yee will take up his position at right wingback with Cheung Kin Fung occupying the Left side of Defence.
Lam Ka Wai will take up his position in the left side of midfield , the Hong-Kong based footballer is considered as one of the best of the future generation of Hong-Kongs footballers.The midfielder is known for his vison and his ability to shoot the ball.2013 Hong-Kong Footballer of the year Huang Yang will be another player who will be taking up his spot in the right side of midfield.Ngan Lok Fung will play as the central man in Kitchee SC’s formation dictating play.
Juan Belencoso will occupy the central forwards position, with Christian Annan taking up his position on the left Side of Attack and Spanish International Jordi Tarr s taking up the right winger’s position.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3)Wang Zhenpeng, Fernando Recio, Kim Tae-Min, Lo Kwan Yee, Cheung Kin Fung, Lam Ka Wai, Huang Yang, Ngan Lok Fung, Juan Belencoso, Christian Annan, Jordi Tarr s
Kingfisher East Bengal
Kingfisher East Bengal have no chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the AFC Cup, Kingfisher East Bengal have managed a meagre 4 points out of 5 fixtures and will be playing for pride against the Chinese based outfit.
Veteran goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal will take his place under the sticks.R.Dhanaranjan and Deepak Mondal will start for Schattorie’s men in left and right back respectively with Arnab Mondal and Gurwinder Singh pairing each other in the centre of defence.There have been concerns growing in the East Bengal camp about the Defensive Partnership of Arnab Mondal and Milan Susak ,So Gurwinder will be expected to pair up with Arnab.
Mehtab Hossain will take his place in the centre of midfield while Khabra will take up his place at right midfield with Abinash Ruidas taking up Left Midfield.Ruidas has been used on multiple occassions in Left Midfield, with the player earning plaudits for his performance as a makeshift midfielder.As always Mehtab will be the Fulcrum of the team, looking to dictate the pace of the game from deep midfield S.Maslswmamtulanga will be the engine in midfield , working tirelessly for the team and looking to press opposition attackers.
Coach Eelco Schattorie is expected to pair up Ranti Martins and Dudu Omagbeni upfront and both being in fine goal scoring form will have heavy expectations on them.Ranti Martins scored in the reverse fixture played at the Yubha Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata ,Dudu and Ranti were also on the teamlist when the club faced Bengaluru FC on Sunday and the fans will be praying they can produce a better display than they dis against the Indian Champions in Tuesday’s fixtures.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3) Abhijit Mondal,Arnab Mandal, Gurwinder Singh, R.Dhanaranjan, Deepak Mondal, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Mehtab Hossain, Abinash Ruidas, S.Maslswmamtulunga, Ranti Martins and Dudu Omagbeni.
Key Players:
Ranti Martins (Kingfisher East Bengal)
The Nigerian striker has been in fine goalscoring form and is the top scorer of the I-League with and astonishing 16 goals.The Nigerian is in fine form and has to be in his peak if Kingfisher East Bengal have any chance of upsetting the Chinese team.The Nigerian was the scorer as the two sides shared the spoils in the reverse fixture in Kolkata and will be expected to play a major role in Kingfisher East Bengal’s last AFC Cup match of the season.
Juan Belencoso (Kitchee SC)
The Spanish Forward has been in fine goalscoring form in the Hong Kong Premier League this season and he has been in fine form as Kitchee SC lead the Hong-Kong Premier League Table ,Juan has the experience of playing in Spain and is a prolific scorer and Kingfisher East Bengal have already known what the striker is capable of as the Spaniard scored in the reverse fixture and East Bengal will have to nullify him , if they want to get anything out of this game.
Predictions:
Kitchee SC 2-1 Kingfisher East Bengal
Kitchee SC having the Home advantage will have an edge over their opponents on Tuesday and the Kolkata based club will have to play exceptionally well to take away anything off tuesday’s opponents. Kitchee SC also have the extra motivation of topping the group if results go their way and with nothing but pride to play for Kingfisher East Bengal will come short infront of the Hong-Kong premier league leaders. THEHARDTACKLE predicts a home victory for Kitchee SC.
