Josue fancies KL’s chances against Negri

Josue is looking to make amends after missing a hat-trick of chances against Selangor last weekend when Kuala Lumpur play Negri Sembilan in their second Super League match at Paroi today.

Had Josue taken his chances, including a shot from outside the box which hit the crossbar, KL might have been celebrating a win over Klang Valley Derby rivals Selangor instead of having to pick up the pieces from a 2-0 loss.

Guilherme De Paula, KL’s top scorer last season with 30 goals in all competitions, missed a great chance when he put a closerange header wide.

But Brazilian midfielder Josue believes that KL did enough in the game to show that the city side will be able to survive in the top-flight after a five-year absence.

“We showed something good but we had a few problems and lost 2-0,” said Josue, who scored six goals in 2017.

“I think we played well especially in the second half when we kept the ball, pressed them and had a few chances.

“I missed maybe three chances and De Paula also missed a couple. But we showed something to our supporters and to ourselves and if we keep going this way I think good things will happen for us this year.”

Josue scored twice when KL beat Negri 3-2 in the Premier League in Selayang last year and he is hoping to do the same at Paroi, a venue where KL last won in 2015.

“We will do our best to get a win but Negri also lost their first game and both teams are under pressure to get a win,” said Josue.

“We need to control the game and with a good coach and good players we have a good chance of winning.”

KL coach Fabio Maciel’s options have increased after defender Achmad Jufriyanto received international clearance on Tuesday to make his debut following his move from Indonesian club Persib Bandung.

Centre-backs Hisyamuddin Shaari and Boburjon Akbarov were both at fault for Rufino Segovia’s two goals for Selangor in Cheras on Sunday and Achmad’s availability should add stability to KL’s defence.

However, winger Zaquan Adha Radzak remains sidelined due to a misaligned bone in his foot while Naim Nazmi Zainuddin has a long-term knee injury.