INSTANT-DICT'S chances of reaching the Asian Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals received a major boost yesterday when Japanese opponents Yokohama Flugels announced they would be fielding a team of reserves for tonight's quarter-final first leg clash at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Flugels will play their reserve side as the club left their best team behind in Japan for last night's J.League clash with Kashima Antlers which they lost 2-0.
All of the Flugels' five South American professionals - midfielders Edu, Moner Fernando Daniel, Valber Dasilva Costa, forwards Menon Aldrovani and Amarilla - were unable to make the trip to the territory.
Despite the news, Instant-Dict manager Ben Choi York-yee remained cautious.
'We can't jump to conclusions,' Choi said. 'Maybe their reserves are not as weak as we think.' The Instant-Dict management have already set aside $300,000 in bonuses if the team get through to the Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals - and that includes $100,000 for victory tonight.
Instant-Dict are set to leave three of their British expatriates - goalkeeper Mick Leonard, midfielder Sean Edwards and striker Eddie Gallagher - on the bench due to Asian Football Confederation regulations.
