Coach Zainal Abidin Hassan wants his strike force to beef up their firepower ahead of Selangor's AFC Cup showdown against Ceres La Salle at Selayang Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Klang Valley giants have scored only four times in their last four games, playing out a goalless stalemate against PDRM FA in the Malaysia Super League (MSL) on Saturday.

Zainal knows how pivotal a victory against the Philippines outfit would be for Selangor to qualify for the knockout stage of the continental competition.

"I am disappointed with our finishing touches," Zainal said. "We have created chances in the last few games but failed to make them count.

"We need goals to win matches and I want the players to be more potent in front of goal on Tuesday."

Selangor are third in Group E in the AFC Cup, level on points with Singapore's Tampines Rovers, who are second having conceded fewer goals.

Scoring has been easier for the Shah Alam outfit in the AFC Cup, with eight strikes this season, more than Tampines, Ceres and Bangladesh's Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi.

But Zainal will have a selection dilemma against Ceres, with Hafiz Kamal suspended, while Razman Roslan and R. Gopinathan are still struggling for fitness.

"I will certainly make some changes for this game," Zainal said.

"Adam Nor Azlin and Saiful Ridzuwan have done well for us, so they are in contention for a starting place as well. The pressure is certainly high competing on two fronts, but we have come this far and must continue playing well."

With their midfield depleted, Zainal could turn to troubled Nazmi Faiz, who was sent off against PDRM for an elbow on Brazilian playmaker Andrezinho.

"I have spoken to him and he has apologised to the team... he has to keep his emotions in check because it affects the team," added Zainal.

Defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim, who became the first side to book their place in the last-16 of the tournament, travel to play Myanmar's Ayeyawady United on Wednesday, who they thrashed 8-1 in the reverse fixture in February.

The Southern Tigers could rest the majority of their regulars as they cast an eye on the FA Cup second leg semifinals against Kedah on Saturday.

They trail 2-1 from the first leg, but will have the advantage of an away goal and their home fans at Larkin where they won the 2016 Charity Shield in February.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by ESPN staff

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