KUCHING: Kuching City FC has secured a place in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought victory over Penang FC at the Sarawak State Stadium last night (Nov 30).
The Cats dominated possession in the first half, dictating the tempo and keeping the visitors on the back foot. However, Penang had a few close calls, including a header from Rodrigo Da Silva Dias that narrowly sailed wide of the near post and the towering forward challenging Kuching’s defence with his physicality.
Kuching maintained their composure despite a few nervy moments, creating chances of their own. Moses Atede came close with a well-placed shot, but Penang’s goalkeeper managed a crucial save to deny the home side an early lead.
The match took a dramatic turn when Penang’s Muhammad Adib Abdul Ra’op was sent off following a VAR-reviewed red card for a dangerous tackle on Moses, much to the frustration of the Penang bench, who were unhappy with the decision.
The game continued with Penang down to 10 men, but despite the numerical disadvantage, they kept pushing forward. However, Kuching showed composure and began to find better momentum in the second half. Moses, who played as a holding midfielder, was integral to Kuching’s attacking play, threading passes and also contributing defensively.
In the 68th minute, Moses played a key role in the opening goal. He found Petrus Shitembi on the left flank, who sent a pinpoint cross to Tchetche Kipre. The Ivorian forward made no mistake, slotting the ball into the net to put Kuching ahead.
The momentum firmly shifted to Kuching as the visitors struggled to recover, with two of their coaching staff receiving yellow cards for disagreement over calls made by the referee.
Ramadhan Saifullah, the winger, received a perfectly timed long ball from Moses and, with room to manoeuvre, powered a shot from outside the box into the net for a stunning strike. The goal put Kuching 2-0 up and sent the local supporters into raptures.
Despite a quiet outing from Danial Amier, who was substituted in the 70th minute to preserve him for upcoming fixtures, Kuching City displayed excellent teamwork and tactical discipline under head coach Aidil Sharin.
Kuching’s fluid football and attacking play were on full display, leaving the fans hopeful for more when Sabah FC visits for what promises to be a thrilling Borneo derby in the quarter-finals.
With their current form and confidence, Aidil’s side promises an exciting continuation of their Malaysia Cup journey.
