Muangthong plotting to overturn 2-goal deficit with Frontale assault
Muangthong United coach Totchtawan Sripan is in no mood to throw in the towel even though his charges face an uphill task as they bid to overturn a 3-1 deficit in their AFC Champions League’s last-16 second leg against J-League side Kawasaki Frontale today.
The Thai League champions, who reached the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in their second appearance in the continent’s flagship event, suffered a torrid second-half in the home leg in which they conceded three goals that left them on the brink of elimination.
Nevertheless, former national midfielder Totchtawan is not ready to raise the white flag ahead of the return leg at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, though his men need to produce a major turnaround in form, after last week’s reverse stretched their losing streak to five games.
“After the first leg, we have to acknowledge that Frontale are a good team and have several quality players. We proved more than a match to them for an hour before fatigue took its toll on us in the closing stages.
“The lads looked determined and very relaxed during the first day of training here. People may think the deficit was too big after the first leg, but our group here still believes we can make the impossible possible,” said the Muangthong coach.
