AFC Cup quarter-final 2nd leg preview: Semen Padang vs East Bengal

Venue: Haji Agus Salim Stadium, Padang, Indonesia

Kickoff: Tuesday, September 24 2013, 13:30 IST (LIVE on ESPN)

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The scenario coming into the second leg could have been so different had Semen Padang been more clinical in the first leg in Kolkata.

Using their additional man in midfield, the Indonesian champions controlled the game in the first half but failed to take their chances with East Bengal goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also making a couple of vital saves.

In the second half, Semen Padang’s intensity dropped but they still managed to hit the woodwork just before Ryuji Sueoka’s winner. So, having lost 1-0 last week, Semen Padang now must win by two clear goals or else see their hopes of reaching the semi-finals get dashed in front of their own passionate fans.

But they have won each of their four home matches in the AFC Cup this season and thus would be aiming to make it five in a row and become the first Indonesian club to make the last four of this competition.

The key statistic from those four home wins is that Semen Padang failed to keep a clean sheet in each of the games and in the one-legged round of 16 match, they had to come from behind to beat Vietnam’s SHB Da Nang, with the winner coming in stoppage time.

The Indonesian outfit can’t afford to concede in this game because it would put immense pressure on them to score three due to the away goals rule.

The performance in the round of 16 and the second half showing in the first leg against East Bengal suggests that the team is still not completely used to playing AFC Cup knockout games.

But coach Jafri Sastra would be hoping that his players get rid of any psychological barrier now that they have played two big matches and the backing of around 15,000 supporters in familiar conditions should help that cause.

Semen Padang should also take confidence from the fact that they outplayed East Bengal for long periods in the away leg despite the absence of two of their key players - Wahyu Wijiastanto and Esteban Vizcarra, both of whom will return from suspension in this game.

Given the problems East Bengal have in central midfield, Semen Padang should once again look to control the middle of the park and get runners to support Liberian striker Edward Junior Wilson.

Technically and physically Semen Padang looked the better side for an hour in the first leg and now with the presence of their 12th man in the return leg, the reigning Indonesian champions should raise their game even more in a bid to overturn the first leg deficit.

Plenty of dignitaries, like the governor of West Sumatra and president of Indonesian football federation are also expected to witness this game, so clearly there is massive interest both in Padang and Indonesia in general.

It’s fair to say that Semen Padang will be under pressure to progress to the semis.