Timor-Leste's coach Zé Pedro stated that their match against Maldives tomorrow in the final game of the third round in the Asian Cup qualifiers will be tough.
Timor-Leste will be able to hold third place in the group if they draw against Maldives at the very least. The game will be played at the Galolhu Stadium in Male'.
The group has four teams in it, with Maldives being the only team to not have won any points.
While speaking at the Galolhu Stadium's carrom hall during the pre-match press conference, the Portuguese coach stated that Maldives will do everything they can to take their position away from them. Pedro, while speaking in Portuguese, also stated that it would make the match quite difficult.
"I know the position of both teams. I know it will be difficult. It will be enough if we draw. However, I know that Maldives will do everything they can to take third place away from us," as were the words said by Pedro, which were translated to English by a translator.
Timor-Leste does not have a stadium that complies with FIFA's requirements. And so, their home games are played in other countries.
However, Pedro has hope that with the current President of Timor-Leste's football association, the state of football in their nation will improve.
Even though they did not have much time to prepare, Pedro said that he had researched how Maldives played and worked to structure his team around his "style".
"I want to play a good game. It is important for me to bring about a good result as well," said coach Pedro.
Tomorrow's match will begin at 3:45pm.
The coming match is coach István Urbányi's first time bringing the senior team out onto the pitch during his third tenure as Maldives' coach.
