Dollah glad to see his raw charges roar in win over PKNP
PETALING JAYA:
Pahang coach Dollah Salleh is glad his second stringers stepped up to the plate to deliver in the 3-0 win over PKNP in the Super League.
The Elephants went into the match at the Manjung Municipal Stadium on Saturday without their key players – centrebacks Safuwan Baharuddin and Muslim Ahmad due to injuries; Herold Goulon for suspension; and unfit winger Saddil Ramdani, who was dropped to the bench.
But the replacements – centreback Bunyamin Omar and Afif Amiruddin – managed to shut out PKNP as goals from Ze Love (second minute), Dickson Nwakaeme (50th) and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (73rd) sealed a comprehensive win.
“I’m glad we scored the early goal, we were under a lot of pressure in the first half. We showed that we can play well even without three of our regulars,” said Dollah.
“We got our second goal very early in the second half too and it unsettled PKNP’s game, they could not play well and we took the opportunity to score our third goal.
“Our boys were more confident in the second half and that’s the difference I saw in the team compared to our last game against Selangor.”
The East Coast side’s win saw them overtake Kedah and go second in the 12-team league standings, two points behind leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Pahang next host Kedah at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Friday where they are hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
But Dollah will have to rejig his line-up again as Brazilian striker Love will have to sit out the match as he will serve an automatic suspension after collecting his third yellow card.
“Goulon and Safuwan will be back for our next game but Muslim and Nwakaeme are still 50-50, it’s unfortunate Ze Love is suspended after collecting three yellow cards.”