Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Coach Alex Gomez has challenged Kitchee to produce a improved display against Jordan's Al Faisaly in Tuesday's quarter-final second leg with the Hong Kong side needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit at Amman International Stadium to keep their AFC Cup campaign alive.
Kitchee only had Alex Akande's first senior goal to show for their efforts last week at Mong Kok Stadium despite Al Faisaly playing for over half an hour with 10 men.
But after sharing a goalless draw with defending champions and 2009 AFC Cup semi-finalists South China in the Hong Kong First Division on Saturday, Gomez is hoping for better showing with Kitchee knowing they must win to advance to the semi-finals at the expense of the two-time AFC Cup champions.
"We didn't have a good performance in the previous match but we still have a chance to qualify," said Spanish coach Gomez, who arrived with his squad in Amman on Sunday.
"We will fight in order to defend our chances to advance to the semi-finals and hopefully we can achieve our target."
Akande, who was making his first senior start, had cancelled out a well-taken goal in the 20th minute from Al Faisaly's Brazilian Tulio Souza (Tulio Gustavo Cunha Souza) with a fortuitous strike in the first minute of the second half at Mong Kok Stadium last week.
Dangerman Ra’ed Fraeh, though, regained the visitors' lead just before the hour mark, and despite defender Mohammad Khamees receiving a red card shortly after, Kitchee failed to find another response with Al Faisaly finishing the match the stronger of the two sides.
But with Kitchee looking to follow in the footsteps of South China, who reached the semi-finals of the AFC Cup in 2009, Gomez is hoping the return of striker Chan Man Fai from suspension can hand his side a timely boost.
"Whoever scores early in the match tomorrow will be closer to qualifying and hopefully we can have a better performance than we did in the first leg," added Gomez.
"We will have the services of Chan Man Fai who missed the previous match through suspension and he will be a good boost for our squad."
The winner following the return fixture at Amman International Stadium will face either Syria's Al Shorta or Kuwait's Al Qadsia in the semi-finals next month.
Last week, Al Qadsia were held to a goalless draw at Peace & Friendship Stadium in Kuwait City ahead of Tuesday's second leg in Lebanon.