Karachi, Mar 23(ANI): Pakistan will try to begin with a balanced approach to bring India under pressure in their vital Group B showdown in the AFC Challenge Cup football qualifiers in Malaysia on Wednesday (today), head coach Tariq Lutfi has said.
"I watched the Indians playing against Chinese Taipei on Tuesday and they had very good strikers and their goalkeeper Subrata Paul is excellent and that is why we will not go all out but will try to begin with the balanced and careful approach as if we are able to keep them at bay from scoring in the first 20 to 25 minutes, it will mount pressure on them which we will then try to capitalise," The News quoted Lutfi, as saying from Kuala Lumpur.
After going 0-3 down against Turkmenistan in their opener on Tuesday, Pakistan need a win to keep their hopes alive to qualify for the eight-team tournament, which will be held next year.
India will be looking to strengthen their position by defeating Pakistan in today's game, which is expected to be full of excitement.
"The match against India is always tense and it will be the same in tomorrow's show as well," Lutfi said.
The coach was not happy with the poor finishing of his boys in their match against Turkmenistan.
"Our finishing was extremely poor. Had we not missed chances against Turkmenistan the other day, the result would certainly have been in our favour. We did not produce a single goal on the six open chances we got while our rivals struck thrice on four chances which came their way," he recalled.
Lutfi, however, conceded that he has the best possible combination for Pakistan.
"No doubt, we have picked the possible lot and will try our level best to produce better performance against India," he said.
Responding to a query pertaining to Indian coach Bob Houghton's statement that he has eight junior players in his side, Lutfi said that the Indian coach is telling a lie.
India, which have already got the experience to play in the Asian Cup after winning the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, are favourites for today's game against Pakistan.
So far, 22 matches have been played between both countries, with India winning 12 and Pakistan winning three, while seven matches have ended in a draw. (ANI)
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