Football

HÀ NỘI – Becamex Bình Dương will not have goal hunter Lê Công Vinh on their side for a home match today against South Korean Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League’s Group E at Gò Đậu Stadium.

Vinh has joined longer-term casualties Michal Nguyen and Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng on the injury list just a couple of days ahead of the game, Coach Nguyễn Thanh Sơn said at a press briefing yesterday in Bình Dương Province.

Defender Nguyen has been ruled out since the March 10 defeat to Sông Lam Nghệ An in the V.League, and former national midfielder Hoàng has yet to kick off his season.

Despite lacking his best players, Sơn was confident that they would see a good result.

“I won’t have some important players, but I still believe in my team’s spirit and an advantage to play at home,” said Sơn, whose team is at the bottom of the group with only one point.

“I think that Jeonbuk is a strong team. They often play very fast, with good combinations especially in the midfield. I appreciate players such as Ricardo Lopes and Lee Dong-gook. And some substitutes like Leonardo and Luiz Henrique also perform impressively.”

 “But if my players can show all of their ability, it won’t be easy for Jeonbuk to defeat us.”

Bình Dương have had good performances on home ground, and for three matches in a row they secured draws and a win.

Bình Dương scored in all five matches at the ACL before their 0-2 loss to Jeonbuk on March 15.

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk’s results on away fields have not been good. Of their nine recent matches, they lost six.

Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee, however, said that in spite of his side currently topping the group standings, they will once again have a tough task when they face Bình Dương.

He said Bình Dương played very well in this year’s league and showed high performance that should be respected by their opponents.

He was impressed with the way their rivals played to get a point against China’s Jiangsu when Jeonbuk played here during last year’s tournament.

Choi said he was still confident that he would secure a victory in this game, although the hot weather could be an obstacle. Jeonbuk were currently at the top of the group and aiming to reach the next round.

In last year’s continental competition, Jeonbuk and Bình Dương also faced each other on the group stage with the pair sharing a 1-1 draw at Gò Đậu as the hosts scored a dramatic stoppage time equaliser.

Another match of the group is between second-placed Jiangsu FC of China and FC Tokyo of Japan. – VNS