Tale of missing ‘killer touch’ in Kuching
KUCHING: Sarawak were industrious in attack but lack the finishing touch in their 1-1 Super League draw against Selangor at the State Stadium here on Wednesday. The Crocs took the lead through a well-taken penalty by Junior Aparecido Guimaro in the 40th minute only for it to be cancelled out by Selangor’s substitute Adam Nor Azlin in the 75th minute.
The Red Giants, looking to close the gap with third place Kedah for the Asean Super League spot, kicked off aggressively to signal their intent. Liberian import Patrick Ronaldinho almost found the net as early as the eighth minute, heading inches wide from a corner. He had another opportunity to put Selangor ahead four minutes later but a poor pass by Ronny Harun outside the penalty box was intercepted by Mohd Razman Roslan. The visitor’s captain put Ronaldinho through on goal but Sarawak goalkeeper Mohd Shahril Sa’ari was well positioned to stop the shot.
A minute later, Tommy Mawat Bada burst in a counter attack on the right flank and put in a good cross for Gilmar Jose Da Silva Filho. The Brazilian striker did well in the aerial dual with Mohd Rizal Fahmi Rosid only to head straight to a relieved Selangor custodian Mohd Khairulazhan.
Gilmar was felled just outside the box in the 33th minute and the resulting freekick by Junior flew inches wide off the goalpost top left hand corner. Both Junior and Ndumba Makeche were a menace to the Selangor’s defence throughout the first half with their direct runs but every attack could not find the net. Finally in the 39th minute, Mohd Bunyamin Omar fouled Junior inside the box and the Brazilian-born playmaker sent Khairulazhan the wrong way to give the Crocs the lead.
At the start of the second half, the visitors almost equalised through Ahmad Hazwan Bakri who was unmarked inside the six-yard box. He failed to convert a pin- point cross from Andik Vermanshah only to see his connecting shot wide off mark. The visitors continued to pound the homesters with a barrage of attacks only to be denied repeatedly by keeper Shahril.
The Crocs had a chance to double their lead in the 71st minute. A corner from Junior found Gilmar in the box only to see his header blocked by the opposing goalie. Two minutes later, Makeche was clipped inside the box but match official Zulkif li Ahmad turned down the penalty appeal.
Sarawak’s hope for three points were dashed with 15 minutes to go following a combination of a technical setback and a miss-pass. Selangor took advantage over an injury on defender Mohammad Dzulazlan Ibrahim, playing the ball as the rightback called for a substitution. Adam, who was left unmarked at the left flank, intercepted a poor clearance and made a 20-yard dash unchallenged before beating keeper Shahril.
With three minutes to go, Ugochukwu Ukah thought he had scored the winning goal after heading the ball into the net from a freekick. Selangor’s celebration was shortlived as Zulkifli ruled the goal offside. A moment of madness occurred in injury time when Ugochukwu was red carded after a scuffle that left fellow team mate Mohd Bunyamin bloodied. Selangor ended the match with nine men.
Af ter Wednesday’s game, Selangor are three points behind third placed Kedah. Sarawak sit at ninth place with 18 points. The Crocs will next meet Kelantan on Sept 9 at Stadium Negeri. — by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith