 |
Clubs |
|
 |
 |
|
 | News |
| | Schedule & Results |
| | Previous Competitions |
| | Regulations & Guidelines |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AFC Cup |
|
|
|
| A professional display, says Darby |
 |
| Perak coach Steve Darby was pleased with his side's performance against UPB-MyTeam. |
SINGAPORE – Perak coach Steve Darby lauded his side on their ‘professional performance’ on Wednesday as they sealed their place in the AFC Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Singapore Armed Forces at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Goals by skipper Ahmad Shahrul Azhar and Hardi Jaafar gave the Malaysian side all three points as they avenged a 6-1 loss to the Singapore double winners and joined SAF on 13 points at the top of Group E.
While SAF claimed first place on head-to-head results, Perak are also assured of a place in the last eight as one of the three best group runners-up.
“It was a professional performance, the boys were committed and played well, and we also had that little bit of luck, which we didn’t have when we met SAF the first time,” said Darby.
“This time we had a bit more luck; we shot a couple of times, and ‘bang, bang’, it was two goals.
“Hardi Jaafar played well today. I gave him and Shahrul a lot of freedom to move in midfield, and they have the licence to go forward and attack or take some long shots.”
Darby remains unsure whether he will still be in charge of Perak and whether many of his players will still be there when the quarter-finals take place.
“I’ve no idea if that will be the 11 who will play in the quarter-finals, and I’ve no idea if I’ll be coaching them in September, because we’re all coming out of contract soon,” the Englishman added.
“It might be the same team, it might not be.”
SAF coach Richard Bok, who fielded a largely second string squad, was pleased with the performance of youngsters Syed Karim and Fadzil Nasir.
“The two young boys in the middle did well, especially in the first half when they played their hearts out,” said Bok.
“They ran a bit out of steam in the second half, but I was happy with their performance and they gave a good account of themselves.
“I’m happy with the first half from the whole team, definitely. We created quite a number of chances in the first half, and I thought we moved the ball well.
“Overall, I’m quite satisfied. Although we lost 2-0, we’re still on top of the group and made it into the quarter-finals. It’s also good that the players on one yellow card didn’t pick up any more today, so they’re clear for the quarters.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
