Japan’s Yokohama Marinos ready for clash with HAGL in AFC Champions League

Yokohama arrived in HCMC on Tuesday morning with 66 members, 30 of whom are players. They carried four tons of baggage including training equipment and food.

Other clubs in group H, South Korean champions Jeonbuk Huyndai and Australian club Sydney FC, will also arrive in HCMC soon.

Due to Covid-19, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has chosen HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium as the centralized venue for all matches of group H in ACL. The games will take place from April 16 to May 2.

AFC also sent 12 officials and experts, along with 17 referees to HCMC for group H matches.

With home ground advantage plus the ideal weather conditions in HCMC, HAGL head coach Kiatisuk Senamuang expects the club to perform well in the group stage.

“To be in this tournament is a great chance for the players. Competing against strong opponents can help HAGL gain more experience. Our goal is to try our best to represent Vietnamese football,” Kiatisuk said.

The game between HAGL and Yokohama is the first of group H. It’s set to take place at 6 p.m., Saturday.

There are three price stamps for group H games: VND50,000 ($2.18), VND100,000 and VND200,000. Tickets are sold directly at Thong Nhat Stadium from April 14 to May 1, or until they are sold out.

In the history of ACL, there hasn’t been a Vietnamese club to pass the group stage. For HAGL, this is their first return to the ACL after 17 years.