Phnom Penh: Having needed a stoppage time goal to defeat Cambodia 1-0 in their AFC U-19 Championship 2018 Qualifier on Tuesday, China PR will be aiming to get the job done much earlier when they face the Philippines on Thursday.
While head coach Jia Xiuquan was pleased with the desire shown by his players for the three points, he admitted after Tuesday's match that China need to lift their form for the remaining matches.
It has to start with Thursday's tie against the Philippines as China will face Myanmar in their final Group G match on Saturday.
Myanmar scored an emphatic 6-0 win over the Philippines on Tuesday to take the early lead in the race to next year's Finals in Indonesia.
The 10 group winners will gain automatic qualification for the Finals while the best five second-placed teams will also advance. Indonesia qualify automatically as hosts.
"The desire shown by my players was great as they kept pressing until they found the winning goal (through substitute Jin Haoxiang)," said Xiujuan.
"However, we need to improve if we are to seal automatic qualification and the players are aware of this."
China will be confident of winning against the Philipines but with Myanmar having scored an emphatic win, they will be under pressure to record a high score.
This could work against China, especially as the Philippines will be looking to bounce back after the defeat to Myanmar.
"We will forget the Myanmar game and focus on giving our best in the remaining two matches," said Philippines coach Jose Maria Aberasturi.
Hosts Cambodia will also be on a mission and Myanmar will not find it as easy against them as they did against the Philippines.
Cambodia coach Inoue Kazunori said his players were extremely disappointed to lose to China in such cruel fashion but were lifted by the fact that they had held their own until the last minutes of Tuesday's tie.
"Our players worked so hard, but a minute or two can make all the difference and change everything. However, we will improve and show our true form in the remaining matches," said Kazunori.
Myanmar, said coach Chit Naing, are determined to maintain their form and seal automatic qualification.
"I am happy with the way the team played, and will look to repeat our performance in our upcoming matches," said Chit Naing.
Myat Kaung Khant was a hat-trick hero against Philippines and he will lead the charge against what is expected to be a stout Cambodia defence at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com