Zhuhai: Macau entertain Sri Lanka in the first leg of the nations’ joint FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China PR 2023 qualifier on Thursday with both sides looking to secure progress beyond the first round for the first time in their history.
Macau will host the game at the Zhuhai Sports Center Stadium in neighbouring Zhuhai after maintenance works to the Estadio Campo Desportivo meant the Macanese were unable to play the match at their usual home stadium.
Despite that move, though, Macau will go into the game as marginal favourites given their higher status in the current FIFA Rankings – they are rated at 183rd in the world, 19 places above the Sri Lankans – and a stronger track record at this level.
The two countries shared a 1-1 draw the last time they met in competitive action, when a late Choi Weng-hou goal cancelled out Kavindu Ishan’s opener to earn Macau a share of the spoils at the inaugural AFC Solidarity Cup in Kuching in 2016.
That result meant Sri Lanka crashed out of the tournament while Macau advanced to the next round before eventually reaching the final, where they lost to Nepal.
Sri Lanka, though, come into the game with arguably the better preparation having played a pair of friendlies – a loss and a draw – against Laos last month, while Macau have not played a game against international opposition since a 1-1 draw with the Northern Mariana Islands in the qualifying rounds for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in September.
Macau v Sri Lanka
Venue: Zhuhai Sports Center Stadium, Zhuhai
Kick-off: June 6, 19:30 (UTC +8)
Photos: Macau Football Association, Football Federation of Sri Lanka
Source: the-afc.com