Preview. FC AGMK to continue their AFC Futsal Club Championship campaign for the third place

Thai Son Nam’s bid for a second consecutive appearance in the final of the Continental Club competition was dashed when they fell 3-1 to Japan’s Nagoya Oceans in the semi-finals on Thursday.

AGMK saw their dream of making the final for the first time dashed after losing 7-3 to Islamic Republic of Iran’s Mes Sungun Varseqan.

Despite their disappointment at having missed out on the final, both teams will be up for Saturday’s third-place challenge with Thai Son Nam having a slight advantage after having beaten AGMK 4-1 in the group stage.

“I want to thank the fans for always supporting us. We still have a match to play and will try our best to win and give something back to the fans,” said Thai Son Nam captain Tran Van Vu.

Thai Son Nam, the 2018 runners-up, had impressed en route to the semi-finals as they topped their group ahead of AGMK, Iraq’s Naft Al Wasat and Al Rayyan of Qatar.

Pham Minh Giang’s side brushed aside Shenzhen Nanling Tielang of China PR in the quarter-finals but came up against an inspired Nagoya Oceans in the semi-finals, with the Japanese club racing to a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Nguyen Manh Dung pulled one back for Thai Son Nam but a fightback was beyond reach but the Vietnamese club are aiming to end their campaign with a medal.

"Our players tried their best against Nagoya Oceans but it was not to be. However, we have one more match and we will do our best," said Thai Son Nam head coach Pham Minh Giang.

AGMK will not be lacking in motivation either despite missing out on the final in what has been a marvellous campaign for them.

The Uzbekistan club had never progressed past the group stage in their previous appearances in the AFC Futsal Club Championship and have impressed at the Bangkok Arena with their determination.

After opening with a 4-1 defeat to Thai Son Nam in Group B, AGMK bounced back with wins over Naft Al Wasat and Al Rayyan Sport Club and then ended the campaign of host side Port FC in the quarter-finals.

They had to concede to the superiority of defending champions Mes Sungun in the semi-finals but head coach Aleksandr Petrov said the future is bright for AGMK.

“About 80 percent of my team are young players, in a couple of years, they will be a top class team. We have one last job to do in the tournament and we will be victorious,” said Petrov.

Saturday
Third-Place Playoff (local time)
AGMK FC vs Thai Son Nam FC (15:30)

Photos: AFC