
Vietnamare top of the three-team group after beating Maldives 16-0 lastweek. Tajikistan are in second place after they beat Maldives 4-0 on September27.
"Tajikistanplayers are taller and bigger, especially the defenders, than Vietnamesebut their technique is not really impressive, just in middle level,"said coach Mai Duc Chung of Vietnam after he witnessed the matchbetween Tajikistan and Maldives.
"Theyplay long ball well. They used 4-4-2 formation with two strikers who havegood speed to vie for ball against Maldives."
Chungstill wants his team, currently ranked 32nd in the world, to be relaxedbut not complacent against Tajikistan, who sit in 135th position globally.
Althoughthey scored 16 goals in their first match, Chung was notsatisfied with his team's performance. He said the result did not tell thewhole story. Vietnam could score many goals because Maldives were too weak, notbecause his players were strong.
Hesaid scoring was still a problem and must be improved for the next match.
"Wehave built up a suitable plan to face them and my players are ready for awin," Chung said.
Thematch will be held at 8pm local time at the Republican CentralStadium in Dushanbe City.
Followingthe tournament rules, only the top team of eight groups will joinfour squads who have taken automatic slots in the finals which will takeplace in India from January 20 to February 6, 2020.
Forthe first time in history, the finals is expanded from eight teams totwelve. Japan are the defending champions while Australia and Chinawere second and third runners-up.
TheAsian Cup will serve as the continental qualification for the 2023FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Australia have alreadyqualified automatically as co-host. Five teams will qualify directly forthe World Cup via the knockout stage (including play-offs for fifth place) andtwo more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Vietnamwho missed their chances twice in play-offs for fifth place are tipped to wintheir first ever World Cup slot this time as it has expanded from 24 to 32teams./.