Sarawak fell 2-1 to PKNS FC during a friendly played last night at Padang Kompleks Sukan PKNS.
The game saw Robert Alberts tinkering with his tactics heavily, while giving players a chance to prove their worth to the team.
Both teams showed great strength in the first half with Bobby Gonzales close to putting the visiting team ahead with a dangerous header. However, the keeper of PKNS was up to the task and the game remained equal until the breather.
After the game restarted, Sarawak made several tactical changes which proved very positive for the visiting team.
Bobby was again in the limelight after he obtained a pass, but somewhat failed to put it in the back of the net.
Nonetheless, quick action from ex-PKNS player Zamri Morshidi soon put the Crocs ahead with a good effort on goal.
The lead however didn’t last long as Roberts decision to bring in Saiful Amar Sudar as the goalkeeper resulted in PKNS scoring two easy goals, hence giving the Super League team a 2-1 win for the night.
Despite the defeat, Sarawak showed good composure in the game which also gave Roberts better insight of what to expect in the coming Malaysia Cup.
Not cool. Sarawak fans bum-rushing the ticket counters at the State Stadium in Kuching on Thursday to get tickets for the Sarawak-Pahang semi-final second-leg match that'll kick off on Saturday. It is hoped these fans will behave themselves when the match begins. - The STAR/ Zulazhar Sheblee
PETALING JAYA : Sarawak could have won the Malaysia Cup for the first time 25 years ago.
Former Sarawak striker Pengiran Bala believes that if not for the “ moment of madness ” at the State Stadium in Kuching during the return-leg of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals in 1988, it could very well have been the year of the “ Ngap Sayot ” .
“ What happened 25 years ago should be a lesson to all, ” warned Pengiran from Miri on Friday, ahead of Sarawak’s semi-final, second leg match against Pahang on Saturday. Pahang won the first-leg 3-1.
Pengiran said that the 1988 team under Sarawak football legend Awang Mahyan should have qualified for the final after holding fancied Kedah to a goalless draw in the first-leg of the semi-finals in Alor Star.
But, barely 10 minutes into play in the return-leg in Kuching, the match was called off due to crowd invasion. The game was later played at a neutral venue in Singapore and Kedah won 1-0.
“ People are still talking about the Ngap Sayot team of 1988. We qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in the history of Sarawak football. We beat Johor 4-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
“ I remember we lost the first-leg in Larkin 2-0, the headline was ‘ The party is over ’ . But we proved them wrong and surprised everyone by thrashing Johor 4-0 in Kuching. We led 3-0 by half-time, ” he recalled.
It was Pengiran who opened the scoring before Jalil Rambly, Mohd Ali Sapiee and Burhaniza Abu Bakar put their names on the scoresheet.
In 1999, Jalil coached Sarawak and they went on to reach the Malaysia Cup final, losing 2-1 to Brunei in extra-time.
Now, the East Malaysians believe they have a fighting chance to make the final again despite the first-leg setback in Kuantan last week.
It looks like 1988 revisited as far as Pengiran is concerned.
But he hopes that “the fans will keep their cool and let the boys give it a go”.
“ It’s not impossible to overturn a two-goal deficit. It can be done with determination and self-confidence. The fans are behind the team. What is important ... the boys should go for early goals, ” said Pengiran.
Sarawak coach Robert Alberts has done a remarkable job in getting the locals to combine with the foreign signings – Bosnian striker Muamer Salibasic and Cameroon centreback Guy Bwele.
The Premier League champions have been impressive at home with 11 wins, a draw and a defeat all season.
In the Malaysia Cup, Sarawak have won all four home matches, including thrashing Super League side Perak 6-1 in the group competition and defeating Sime Darby FC 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
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Post time 24-6-2013 09:31 PM
