SEARCHING FOR AN EQUALISER: Sarawak’s Ahmad Faiz Bujang in action against Johor players in yesterday’s President’s Cup match at Stadium Negeri.
KUCHING: Sarawak have yet to register a win in the President’s Cup after suffering a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Johor yesterday.
Playing at home, Sarawak were pinned at their own half for a good part of the first half.
Johor capitalised on Sarawak’s sloppy defence with two goals scored in the first half by Muhd Fazly Mazlan and Syafiq Shaharuddin. The home team launched a few counter attacks in the first 45 minutes but to no avail.
After half-time, the homesters played a more attacking style but Johor’s defence was simply too
solid.
Sarawak’s consolation goal only came in the 88th minute when Eugene Thompson Thomas shot the ball into the back of the net from the penalty area. The search for the equaliser never materialise and the score remained at 2-1 until the final whistle.
Sarawak team manager Haidel Heli, while obviously disappointed with the loss, said his team did show improvement from the previous match.
“It is every team’s goal to win every match that they play but I guess it simply wasn’t our luck this time. Johor was also a tough side to play against. I really think we could have settled this match with at least a draw but then again, our team is still a newly-assembled team so I can only hope they will improve as we go through this tournament,” he said.
Sarawak’s will meet Melaka next in an away match this Thursday.