Late JDT penalty sends Kedah reeling.
Kedah coach Aidil laments fate after JDT’s late penalty
ALOR SETAR: Kedah coach Aidil Sharin is crestfallen that the result of the top-of-table clash favoured Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
He said his players put on a sterling performance and played to instruction only to be denied of at least a draw by a late penalty.
“A disappointing result (when JDT scored in the final minutes), but I’m happy with my boys as they worked hard throughout the 90 minutes. But in the end we had to pay a heavy price after one mistake. But that’s football, we have to accept the fact and move on.
“In the past, we have dashed our opponents’ hopes in the dying minutes ... and today, we are on the receiving end.
“My boys did their best and JDT are not easy to beat because they are a strong team.
“Anyway we accept this result and respect the referee’s decision to award the penalty kick,” he said after the match at the Darulaman Stadium here.
Kedah, who were aiming to head the table, lost 1-0 when JDT’s Bergson da Silva converted the spot kick in injury time.
The defeat saw the Red Eagles drop to third with 23 points, one point behind second placed Terengganu. JDT lead with 27 points.
Aidil has now urged his men to bounce back in their match against Sabah at the Likas Stadium on Saturday.
“We will intensify training and devise a strategy to change our position in the league, my hope is that the players would not get discouraged, we need to be ready to play against Sabah,” he said.
In the first round of the Super League, Kedah defeated the Rhinos 2-0 on March 9.
Meanwhile, JDT coach Benjamin Mora was relieved the penalty kick put an end to their winless run.
Before heading into the match, the Southern Tigers lost 0-1 to Terengganu on April 24 and were held 1-1 by Kuala Lumpur six days later.
The Mexican said his players were made to work hard because the hosts were on top of their game.
“It was a tough match ... I think our most difficult so far this season.
“There have been a lot of improvement in Kedah’s game in terms of player’s performance, style and strategy.
“However, my boys showed great teamwork although it was not our best match but in the end it was effective as we got three points.”