HÀ NỘI – Sanna Khánh Hòa face Muangthong United club of Thailand in the first leg of the Toyota Mekong Club Championship’s final today.

“Muangthong United are a leading football team of Thailand as they have so many national team players in the team. They have better international experience than us so the upcoming match will be very difficult. However, we aim to defeat the Thai team to take the title,” said coach Võ Đình Tân at a press conference held in Hà  Nội yesterday.

Khánh Hòa, who finished sixth in the V.League 1 this year, have shown a series of impressive displays in their tournament debut thus far, beating Cambodia’s Boeungket Angkor 9-5 aggregate in the first round and then Lao Premier League champions, Lao Toyota FC 2-0 in the semi-final.

“The whole team tried their best and put in the effort during the past matches. Several players have been injured but we will overcome this before meeting the Thai team in the second leg,” Tân added.

Meanwhile, coach Tawan Sripan of Muangthong United, who finished second in the Thai Premier League this year, said he brought his best players to Việt Nam. However, he is anxious as his team haven’t had the best preparation for this game, having only trained for four days ahead of the game.

The former Hoàng Anh Gia Lai player said he watched videos of matches of Khánh Hòa and said they improved in each match and would be tough opponents for his team.

Khánh Hòa have had Youssouf Toure to thank for their progress thus far, with the French striker netting six goals in three tournament games.

To prepare for the finals, Khánh Hòa have signed defender Đào Văn Phong from Quảng Nam, who won the V.League title this year.

The 33-year-old former national footballer is one of the league’s top right-backs.

Phong, who was born in Khánh Hòa, is expected to help the coastal team shine today.

The final’s first leg will take place at 6pm at Hàng Đẫy Stadium, while the second leg will take place on January 6 next year in Thailand. – VNS