Kuching, May 14:

Nepali league champions Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) face last year’s runners up Dordoi Dyanomi of Kyrgyzstan in its last league match of the second AFC President’s Cup at the Sarawag Stadium on Monday.

Win against the Dordoi Dyanamo would ensure MMC’s semi-final berth but even a draw would put them in contention provided the other match between FC Vashkh and Ratnam Sports Club also ends in a draw.

MMC earned deserved praise following its 3-1 win over FC Vashkh, who topped last year’s winners Regar Tadaz in their national league to qualify for the second edition.

“The win over Vashkh by the team that looked physically inferior, is something we have taken seriously and so we will be cautious playing with MMC,” Dordoi Dyanamo coach Boris Padkorytoc said. He also added that it was unlucky for both the teams to loose their opening matches otherwise, they would have already entered to the semi-finals.

MMC’s performance in the last game has changed the perception of Dordoi Dyanamo, who were earlier boasting to score half-a-dozen goals against the Nepali champiosn. Now they are saying that MMC would be their opponent in the final.

MMC, however, is troubled with the injuries to its key players — skipper Tashi Tsering, Sagar Thapa, Umesh Upreti and Anil Guring. According team doctor Rajiv Jha, all the players, however, would play in the crucial match despite the injury.

Manang coach Chhiring Lobsang Gurung was confident that his players would put on the show they did in the last game, and qualify themselves for the semi-finals. “Even against Ratnam Sports Club, we played better but were unfortunate to lose the game,” Gurung said.

According to the coach, first choice goalkeeper Sangeet Rajak will guard the post while Tashi Tsering, Umesh Upreti, Sandip Rai will take care of the defence line. Nabin Neupane, Pravesh Katuwal, Basanta Gauchan and Nirajan Khadka will take responsibility of the midfield, while Anil Gurung and Raj Kumar Ghising will be given the duty to score.