Mirdjalal Kasimov: We are ready for the match

“We’ve had a long flight to Vietnam, but after one day, everything is OK. All of my players are in good physical condition,” said Kasimov.

“Vietnam played well in the last game, but we also played well and deserved to win that game because we scored more goals than them.

“I believe that Vietnam will try their best again in the second game. They have the advantage of playing home, but we’re the stronger team, so I think they will play counter-attack in this game.

“I still think we will achieve one more victory to get three more points just because we are the better team. We will try our best to reach the next round.”

Vietnam are currently rooted to the foot of the table following three defeats, and Nguyen Van Sy’s side must avoid a similar fate at My Dinh Stadium to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

“We’re ready for the second game against Uzbekistan. In this game, we will have two changes with goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong and the captain, midfielder Le Tan Tai, who didn’t play last game in Uzbekistan because of injuries, coming back into the team,” said Van Sy, who is in temporary charge of the side as Hoang Van Phuc is preparing the U-23 side for December’s South East Asian Games in Myanmar.

“Uzbekistan are the stronger team, that’s why we must have a good defensive system first before thinking of the goal scoring chances.

“We still have a little chance to reach the next round if we win the last three games, but first of all, we have to concentrate to play well in this game.”