KUANTAN: Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC’s ploy to create goals through counter-attacks paid off when they managed to tie Sri Pahang FC with a 1-1 draw during the return match of the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals at Darul Makmur Stadium here last night.
With the outcome, KL City FC advanced to the semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate score after the City Boys’ won 1-0 in the first quarter-final match on Sept 17.
Head coach Nenad Bacina said the approach was seen as more practical to defeat the hosts as his team had to play in poor pitch conditions.
He said they usually play by attacking from the back to the front, but this time KL City were more focused on counter-attacks and let Sri Pahang dominate the match more.
“We were more patient and when we counter-attacked it gave us more opportunities to create goals including the goal we successfully produced tonight,” he told reporters after the match last night.
In the match, the visiting team first scored in the 29th minute through Romel Oswaldo Morales with a header before the Elephants managed to break the deadlock in injury time through Lucas Da Silva’s penalty kick.
Meanwhile, Sri Pahang FC manager Fandi Ahmad said his men had given a 200 per cent performance on the field to ensure the team’s progress, but luck was not on their side in the match.
“Sri Pahang managed to dominate this match and we had at least six chances to score goals but luck was not on the team’s side.
“It was only when KL City got a free kick that we lacked discipline in terms of holding our opponents to give them the opportunity to create the lead,” he said. – BERNAMA
