KUCHING: Tactical observations shared by a football pundit helped Kuching City FC contain Selangor dangerman Eduardo Sosa as The Cats secured a 2-0 extra-time victory to book their maiden FA Cup final appearance last night (Nov 8).
The result saw Kuching City overturn Selangor’s 2-1 first-leg advantage despite having only 48 hours to recover, no proper on-pitch training sessions and around seven key players unavailable through injuries.
Head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak said the players’ determination made the difference despite the demanding schedule.
Aidil revealed that observations shared by a football pundit ahead of the match had helped shape his tactical approach, particularly in dealing with Sosa, Selangor’s No. 10.
“Tonight, we wanted to eliminate their No. 10, (Eduardo Sosa), and No. 9, (Hugo Boumous). That was one of our tactical plans.
“You could see Kaishu Yamazaki working very hard with Ryan Lambert in the middle to make sure that No. 91, (Fernandez), did not receive much service in the box. I think the boys did very well by following the game plan, with their hard work and dedication,” he said.
He told reporters in a post match press conference last night (Nov 8) that the pundit had highlighted Sosa’s quality, prompting the coaching staff to focus on limiting his influence and cutting off the supply to Selangor’s forwards.
Kaishu Yamazaki and Ryan Lambert worked hard in midfield to neutralise Sosa and disrupt Selangor’s attacking rhythm.
“It is not easy to play 120 minutes with 48 hours of rest and around seven key players unavailable, but I trust all my players and tonight they proved that they wanted to be in the final,” he said.
Squad shortages also forced Aidil to deploy natural forward Joao Pedro at left-back, where his overlapping runs provided an attacking outlet while helping contain national player Quentin Cheng.
The injury list included Gabriel Peres and Ronald Ngah, who were recovering from knee operations, while Jimmy Raymond was sidelined with a broken foot.
Aidil stressed that the victory was built on collective effort rather than individual performances.
“At Kuching City, there is no star and no individual. It is all about the team. Whether we win or lose, it is about the team effort,” he said.
He also thanked the home supporters for filling the stadium with white and green, saying their presence gave the players an extra boost.
“I want to thank all the fans who filled the stadium with white and green. They gave the players an extra boost,” he said.
Aidil added that the upcoming break would give injured players time to recover as the team prepares for the final.
Since taking charge, he has guided Kuching City to the finals of the Challenge Cup, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup.
