Coach warns Crocs as Sime Darby match looms

KUCHING: Sarawak could have been hit for worse in the come-from-behind 2-1 win over KL SPA Putrajaya FC at the State Stadium on Friday night as they did not have enough goal scoring chances.

Sarawak coach Robert Alberts said they played badly in the first half and will not be able to win in their next game against Sime Darby next Friday should they continue to play like they did against SPA.

“There were not enough chances created and every attacking moves were ad-hoc and also lacking in defensive behaviour to give a good performance in the first half.

“We were just not good enough in goal scoring chances. There was a lack of motivation in attack and I didn’t see any combination.

“My plan for substitution to bring in Junior (Eldstal) didn’t work out as we were 1-down and I couldn’t do that.

“I was not surprised when we were 1-0 down at halfttime as we may have an off-day today but if we play like that like in the first half against Sime Darby we will not be able to defeat them.

“As for Junior, he was the catalyst for Sarawak fightback as he is good defensively and can win the ball and he has done that in previous matches,” said Alberts.

Alberts said Junior should be in the first-eleven in the next match as he has built him up gradually and he is ready now to play from the start.

Junior’s introduction in the second half of the match was like a fresh air as he defended well and had ball possession.

The second goal came about from his headed pass to Bobby Gonzalez who finished off the chance with another header into the net beyond the reach of SPA keeper.

The first goal which cancelled out the goal by SPA in the first half was scored by Cameroonian talismanic player Guy Bwele who cooly finished off a freekick when he curled the ball across the wall straight into the net in the 56th minute.

SPA sprang a surprise through by foreign striker Joel Armel Ngalaha in the 42nd minute.

Alberts, meanwhile, said that Sarawak’s disallowed goal in the 53rd minute should stand as the SPA keeper was not body-checked but lost his balance and fell backwards.

Source: New Sarawak Tribune