Hyderabad, August 06: With the team showing immense fighting spirit and an impressive 2-1 victory over formidable Turkmenistan in their last match to boot, India start as favourites against Myanmar in the semifinal of AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here tomorrow.

After two lacklustre matchesagainst Afghanistan and TajikistanIndia topped Group A by sending Turkmenistan packing from the tournament and that victory has put India's title hopes on course.

The home team started on an unimpressive note and they had to wait till the injury time to beat minnows Afghanistan by a solitary goal and come back from behind to hold defending champions Tajikistan in the next match that too from their opponents' own goal.

But what has made coach Bob Houghton happy was the never-say-die attitude of his charges who fought till the end which the Englishman felt would be crucial to win the tournament and qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.

"All the boys showed the fighting spirit till the end in all the group matches especially in the first twoagainst Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

They are an honest bunch of boys who try very hard.

They know the importance of this tournament," Houghton had said of his charges.

India played their best match of the tournament against Turkmenistan with all the players chipping in though captain Baichung Bhutia scored a brace to seal the victory.

The back four were spot on, the midfield up to their task and strikers Baichung and Sunil Chhetri creating havoc whenever India raided the rival defence.

Goalkeeper Subrata Paul was outstanding under the bar.

Houghton later described that match as one of India's best in the last 12 months.

The home team, however, would take Myanmar lightly at their own peril at Gachibowli Stadium tomorrow, considering that the South East Asians had beaten Sri Lanka and Nepal by impressive margins of 3-1 and 3-0 before losing to title favourites DPR Korea 0-1 in their last Group B match.

India have played Sri Lanka and Nepal at regional tournaments like the SAFF Cup and know that beating Sri Lanka and Nepal by that margin was no mean job and they can't lower their guards tomorrow. The Myanmaree, ranked nearly 30 places below India in the FIFA charts, are technically sound and they play short and fast-paced game under the influence of their Brazilian coach Marcos Antonio Falopa.

Falopa had taken Myanmar to two final appearances last yearin Merdeka Cup and South East Asia Games.

They have two nippy forwards in captain Soe Myat Min and Paing Yan who have shared three goals between them, and midfielders Win Thein Waza and Myo Min Tun to bank on for the crucial supplies upfront.

Falopa had said though India would be a tough opponent at home his charges are capable of springing a surprise.

Attacking midfielder NP Pradeep is set to miss India's semifinal match against Myanmar tomorrow while central defender Mahesh Gawli will sit out for the second match in a row.

Bob Houghton disclosed that Pradeep has aggravated his hamstring injury in the match against Turkmenistan but said the Kerala player's absence will not be felt much by the team.

Houghton said Gawli, who was substituted by Surkumar Singh in the second half of India's second match on Friday due to a knee problem, will sit out of tomorrow's match and may not play the final also, if India beat Myanmar.

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