Lao Toyota vs Ho Chi Minh City 10/03/20

10 March 2020

Ho Chi Minh City travel to the New Laos National Stadium to take on Lao Toyota in the AFC Cup, looking to cement their place at the top of Group F.

Nailed to the bottom of the section, the hosts have lost both of their opening group matches, with each seeing them concede precisely three goals and score at least once. Indeed, the Laotian outfit have lost 14 of their 17 previous continental fixtures, including the last seven, drawing the other three. Frustratingly poor defensively, they conceded over 2.5 goals in 12 of those 17 games, allowing precisely one apiece in the other five. If that’s not enough for concern, then the fact that Lao Toyota have drawn a blank in three of their last six continental home matches should give head coach Jun Fukuda a reason to be wary.

Meanwhile, the visitors have secured a 3-2 away win over Hougang United on Matchday 2 after playing out a 2-2 draw with Yangon in the Group F curtain-raiser to go top of the group. Far more prolific before the break, the ‘Red Battleship’ have scored four of their five continental goals this season before the halftime whistle. Notably, all five of their competitive matches since the turn of the year have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet (W2, D1, L2), with their last two results (win/loss) seeing the winner on the day come from behind to seal three points. Curiously, their last five competitive games have each witnessed over 2.5 goals and both teams score in one half.