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Dubai: Al Wasl host Kuwait Club today in a last-gasp attempt to revive their hopes of going top on Group B and making it to the quarterfinals of the 2008 Asian Champions League.
Al Wasl, who lost their first two matches to Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraq and Saipa of Iran, have to clinch the three points today.
"We still have hopes of reaching the quarterfinals if we win today and the remaining three matches. It's true that we lost two matches, but we need not give up," said Ze Mario, the Al Wasl coach, during a press conference held at the club yesterday.
Kuwait Club have come fresh from clinching the Kuwaiti league title last week. It was their 10th league title. They have two points in the Asian Champions League Group B, with drawn ties against Al Quwa Al Jawiya and Saipa
"The match will be difficult since it's our first away match. Al Wasl are not an easy team," said Farouq Korovic, the assistant coach of Kuwait.
Injury worries
Al Wasl had some injury worries last week, with Brazilian Andre Diaz, Abdullah Eisa, Khalid Darwish, Tariq Hasan and Sami Rabea out of action in their last league match. However, Khalid, Sami, Diaz and Tariq will be available today, while Eisa is yet to recover.
Al Wasl are taking part in the Asian Champions League in its new format for the first time. Kuwait Club, meanwhile, had participated in the 2006 and 2007 editions, but were eliminated in the group stages.
Eisa Ali, the Al Wasl midfielder, said they would fight in today's clash to win the three points. "We lost two matches owing to certain [unavoidable] circumstances and bad luck, but we are determined to win today to keep our hopes alive," said Ali.
The match kicks off at 7.45pm at Al Wasl Stadium.
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