Bani Yas vow to attack in make-or-break home tie

Abu Dhabi: Bani Yas captain Yousuf Jaber insists his team will go all-out for a win at home against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor tonight despite needing only a point to assure their place in the AFC Champions League knockout stage.

The Abu Dhabi club begin the final round of qualifying matches in second place in Group B, one point ahead of the visitors. Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad have already won the group.

Competition debutants Bani Yas have impressed in the group so far and are determined to go further.

"We will not play for a tie. We will play to win the game," Jaber told Gulf News yesterday.

"Our fate is in our hands and we will not squander this chance. We are playing at home and we should win, bearing in mind that we forced the Uzbeks to settle for a tie away in a match we could have won. But we will forget that encounter and concentrate on this one."

Key influence

Bani Yas will miss the services of their dynamic player Sultan Al Ghafri, who has been playing in almost all positions with huge success this season. He has played in both full-back positions and in his usual place in midfield, but has collected two yellow cards and will miss this match.

"I have complete confidence in my teammates and I am sure they will win the points to take us to the second round." Al Gafri told Gulf News. "We have a golden chance and we will be keen not to squander it.

"They [Pakhtakor] are desperate to win and this is dangerous because they will go all out for attack and we have to be ready for that."

Fellow Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira play their final group game away to Qatar's Al Rayyan tonight. Al Jazira have already won Group A thanks to their near-perfect 13 points from five games, while Al Rayyan need to win and hope Esteghlal slip up against bottom side Nasaf.

Al Jazira will miss the services of Ali Khaseef, their first choice custodian, due to a one-match suspension for collecting two yellow cards, but UAE Olympic team keeper Khalid Eisa will be ready to step in.

Oliveira lauds team

"I am happy to become the top scorer of the preliminary round so far with six goals." Al Jazira striker Ricardo Oliveira said. "But what is important is to keep winning matches and go further in the competition. The goals are an outcome of teamwork and we are all working hard to achieve victories for our team."