KUCHING: Calling for his team to “keep the intensity”, Kuching City FC head coach, Aidil Sharin Sahak, said the performance against Penang reflected the attacking football the fans want to see.
Kuching City overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to defeat Penang 2-0 at the Sarawak State Stadium, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory and booking their place in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals.
Aidil credited the result to the players’ discipline and execution of the game plan, particularly in dealing with Penang’s direct approach.
“We knew what Penang was going to do. They didn’t change – it was long balls. We prepared for it and the boys executed well.
“We controlled the game. Although the pitch was not the best, I think if the conditions were better, the boys would definitely play better football.
“In the first half, we dominated the full 45 minutes and were only tested in the final five minutes,” he said at the post-match press conference on Saturday (Jan 24).
Kuching City maintained their composure in the second half despite Penang increasing the tempo, with Aidil praising his side’s defensive organisation and recovery.
“We stopped their number seven (Wenzel-Halls), who is their best player, and recovered well throughout the match. Overall, we controlled and dominated the game,” he added.
Both goals came in first-half injury time, with Miri-born Gabriel Nistelrooy opening the scoring after capitalising on a mistake by Penang goalkeeper, Ramadhan Hamid, the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) loanee tapping into an empty net.
Cameroonian striker, Ronald Ngah, added the second goal a minute later after pouncing on an error by Penang defender, Kamil Akmal Rokisham, to send Kuching City into the last eight.
Kuching City will face DPMM Brunei in the two-legged quarter-finals, with the first leg at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium on Feb 8, before the return leg at the Sarawak State Stadium on Feb 15.
