Kuching: Macau coach Tam Iao San will send his team out against Sri Lanka on Wednesday evening looking for a third win in a row in the group stages of the AFC Solidarity Cup Malaysia 2016, despite having already booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition as Group B winners.
Macau’s 4-1 win over Laos on Sunday was the representative team’s second straight success at the competition following a 2-1 victory over Mongolia in their opening game of the tournament.
But while Tam is considering making several changes to freshen up his team against the Sri Lankans, he is determined to maintain his side’s fine form.
“As a coach in every game you want a victory, even if you have qualified for the semi-final,” he said. “Also, if you lose concentration or you don’t keep your mentality very strong, it’s very dangerous.
“So, for the next game we will try to give opportunities for the other players but it doesn’t mean we don’t care. In every game we want to fight and we want to win the game. That’s my philosophy and we will keep going.”
Nicholas Torrao has scored twice in each game so far making him the tournament’s leading scorer with four goals, while Lao Pak Kin and Leong Ka Hang also chipped in with goals in the surprise win over Laos that ensured Macau go into the game as favourites.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have struggled at this year’s tournament, losing both of their opening games against Laos and Mongolia.
Those results mean the South Asian nation has already been eliminated from the competition with one round of matches to be played, but coach Duddley Steinwall is determined his side will leave Malaysia with their pride intact despite a demanding schedule.
“We have to play another match against Macau and we are still confident,” he said. “We will try to do what we always try to do and that is to try to win.
“My boys, I’m proud of them because we have played two matches in four days and that hasn’t been easy. We had another two days before the Macau game, but I think we can win.”
