India to go for win against Myanmar, says Wim Koevermans

A draw against hosts Myanmar would see India top the group and qualify for AFC Challenge Cup 2014 in Maldives but coach Wim Koevermans says his team will only be going for a win when the two sides face off here Wednesday.

For the record, India stay at the top of the Group with six points from two matches while Myanmar, placed second are on four points from two matches.

The top team from the Group qualifies for the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 which is to be held in Maldives.

"At the back of the mind, you may be forced to think about a draw which will see us through. But we won't play for a draw," said Koevermans.

"In such a match, there's no place for any errors on the field. We need to keep possession and not give it away easily. In the last two matches, we have been casual at times to gift away the ball to our rivals. Against Myanmar, we can't do that," said Mehtab Hossain who has been omnipresent on the green in the last two matches.

India's captain Sunil Chhetri though made aware to his teammates of the large number of home fans who will be there to support their team.

"Let's not forget they will have support from the stands and from what we saw, it's a noisy crowd. Teams when backed by passionate fans can be very dangerous. That stays a big challenge for us," Chhetri warned.

India defeated a tricky opponent in the form of Chinese Taipei 2-1 in the opening match of the qualifying tournament and then impressed against Guam beating them 4-0 to go top of the table.

"Let's not forget they will have support from the stands and from what we saw, it's a noisy crowd. Teams when backed by passionate fans can be very dangerous. That stays a big challenge for us," he said.

The two second half goals against Guam yesterday took Chhetri's tally of goals to 40, two short of India's all-time scorer, former captain Bhutia.

The Indians, who were unimpressive in the opening half against Guam, would look to stamp their authority over Myanmar from the onset. But for that to happen, Kovermans' boys will have to be come up with a much-improved performance in the opening 45 minutes.

Against Guam yesterday, it was a tactical display by the Indians against an opposition, who looked ultra-defensive at times.

Finding it difficult to break free among the crowd of legs, the Indians preferred to use the flanks in the second half and open up the rivals.

But come tomorrow, a confident India, who had defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in their opening match, would look to control the proceedings from the word go.