OFF-COLOUR RED GIANTS MYSTIFY FANS
Surprise loss to Penang exposes Selangor’s vulnerability
JUST when you thought the Red Giants were starting to walk tall again, they fell flat on their faces. That was what happened to the Selangor FC team. They flattered to deceive. After giving mighty JDT a fright on Wednesday, (Selamgor wasted two penalties in a 1-1 draw, they fell 2-0 to newly promoted Penang at MBPJ Stadium three days later. Penang’s goals were scored by Al Hafiz Harun (38th) and Danial Ashraf Abdullah (72nd).
Selangor started the league by beating Pahang 3-1 but lost by the same score to Tewengganu next. They then drew 1-1 with Kuala Lumpur.
Selangor fans are baffled by their team’s Jekyll and Hyde show. So is Selangor’s coach Karsten Neitzel.
And the German won’t settle for the by now tiresome excuse that M-League teams are fatigued (due to two matches a week) and have only a short preseason in preparation.
“I don’t want to talk about preseason or the schedule. It’s five games in 15 days but it’s the same for the other teams as well.
“The players are tired and that’s the truth but that’s not the reason why we didn’t win (against Penang),” said Neitzel.
“We have to be more intelligent in ball possession and faster to win the ball from the top.”
Though Selangor boast of two of last season’s top scorers in the Super League -Ifedayo Omosuyi and Shahrel Fikri Fauzi - Neitzel said his team must improve on their finishing, as well as their passes.
“We had a lot of situations at the goal line, the final pass wasn’t coming.
“Our players had good movements but they were not able to bring them to a position where they can finish.
“Penang had a strong defence but we played the crosses too early, so it was hard for Omosuyi and Shahrel. We need other options to play the final pass and not cross too early.”
Penang coach Tomas Trucha said: “Although our preparations were short due to the MCO, we were able to play good friendlies. We play as a team, fight for one another and I believe we can beat anybody.”
At Hang Jebat Stadium, Melaka United started their match literally on a negative note. Before they took to the field against Kuala Lumpur City, Melaka were docked three points by FAM for failure to settle salaries owing to their players.
However, this did little to afffect Melaka who made the City Boys pay with a 2-1 win. So, for Melaka, it’s three points out before kickoff, and three points in after final whistle.
Melaka coach Zainal Abidin Hassan said: “This is what I want...a team who never say die and keep playing (despite being docked three points),
While FAM were penalising Melaka, the Mousedeer were given two penalties, which they happily converted through Alex dos Santos Goncalves (51st, 80th). KL City pulled one back in the 89th minute through Abdul Azim Rahim.