Sarawak’s Ronny Harun (left) and Hairol Mokhtar attempting to ward off JDT’s Safee Salee (centre) during their match at the Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium on Saturday. — Bernama Photo
KUCHING: Patrick Nyema’s 47th minute equaliser had destiny written all over it. It sent the Crocs through to this year’s Malaysia Cup quarter-finals.
The Swiss-Liberian defender helped ensure that Sarawak’s adventure in this year’s Malaysia Cup competition continues.
Sarawak suffered from a goal down in the first half on JDT’s home ground on Saturday. But the visitors did not lose their composure in the quest for an equaliser.
This was the key difference compared to their previous Malaysia Cup encounter at Stadium Negeri where they were demolished by JDT, paying the price of their lapses while trying too hard to find an equaliser after conceding early in the match.
The 1-1 draw against JDT at the Tan Sri Dato H aji Hassan Yunos Stadium on Saturday was exactly what the Crocs were looking for before the match.
“With a team like JDT, the Super League and newly crowned AFC Cup champions, a draw at their own turf is good enough. We need to have this belief that we can do it,” head coach David Usop said before the match.
The Crocs stood solid until the final whistle, withstanding JDT’s barrage of assaults.
At the end of the group stage, Sarawak finished second in Group B with eight points behind JDT (16 points), followed by ATM (7 points) and Perak (three points).
Sarawak will play Selangor in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Stadium Negeri tomorrow (Nov 24).
Selangor will host the second leg this weekend on Nov 28.
Last year, the Crocs failed to go past the group stage of the Malaysia Cup competition.
In this year’s Super League, Sarawak finished in tenth spot, just a place above the relegation zone.