Bangladesh -vs- Qatar

Qatar is missing 5 players, and Bangladesh...2 main defenders. Absences won't affect us, says Qatar coach CHITTAGONG – Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic has played down the fact that his side goes into Wednesday’s AFC Asian Cup 2007 qualifier against Bangladesh having to make do without five players who are absent through either suspension or injury. “We have several absentees but at the same time we have players who are ready to fill in the gaps,” the Bosnian said ahead of the Group F match that has been moved to Chittagong due to refurbishment work taking place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital Dhaka. Central defender Abdulla Koni misses out after picking up a yellow card in Qatar’s two previous Asian Cup qualifiers while striker Syed Bechir is also serving a suspension following his red card in Qatar’s 3-0 victory over Hong Kong in their Group F opener. Ex-Antwerp attacker Hussein Yasser, who opened the scoring against the inaugural Asian Cup hosts, is injured while Waleed Jassim and Talal Al Blushi have joined the former Manchester City trialist on the crocked list. Qatar were hoping to use the WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) Championship to prepare for what will be the first meeting between the two sides but with the troubles in Lebanon leading the cancellation of the tournament, Musovic has to had to make do with a two-week training camp in the Czech Republic. Having followed up the win in Hong Kong with a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Uzbekistan in Doha, Qatar know that a victory against Bangladesh will take them a step closer to qualifying to the Asian Cup finals for the seventh consecutive tournament. However Musovic, who led Qatar Sports Club to the 2002/03 Q-League title, is taking nothing for granted even though they go into the match as clear favourites. The players know how important the game is,” he said. “We are going to Bangladesh aiming at taking all three points to remain top of the group. We respect our opponents whether they are strong or weak and the players will be ready for the game.” Bangladesh’s last meaningful international ended in a 6-1 defeat to Tajikistan in April as the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup hosts bowed out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage having been held to a 1-1 draw with Palestine after victories over Cambodia and Guam in the Group Stage. But the 2003 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship winners did enjoy a morale boosting 4-0 win over Narayanganj although the victory was tempered by injuries to Hasan Al Mamun and Mohammed Sujan, who scored the winning penalty as Bangladesh beat the Maldives in a final shootout to claim only their second major regional title after the 1999 SAF Games gold.