City Boys on right path after first win on the road

We should be so happy: Kuala Lumpur’s Romel Morales (second from right) celebrating with teammates after scoring against Pahang. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Coach Bojan Hodak was pleased with Kuala Lumpur after they finally won their first away game this season.

The City Boys extended their unbeaten run to nine games in the Super League after racing to a 2-0 win against Pahang at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Friday.

Colombian midfielder Romel Morales, who missed an open chance in the 30th minute, redeemed himself with an emphatic finish in the 49th minute after receiving a pass from captain Paulo Josue.

In the 70th minute, Morales was again the protagonist when his pass found J. Partiban on the left, and the winger provided an inch-perfect cross for Zhafri Yahya to score.

Hodak said it was good to see his boys finishing the game without any issues.

“I’m delighted because it was our first away win. It’s also our second clean sheet in a row. And we have not been defeated since April, nine games in total,” said the Croatian.

“In the first half, we played well but could not convert our chances.

“I thought we were in for another night like our previous five to six matches but the boys came good in the second half.

“We are getting better in every match and that’s important.”

Hodak praised Morales for stepping up in the absence of strikers Dominique Da Sylva and Kyrian Nwabueze, who were out due to long-term injuries.

“We had to bring in Romel and he did well as the striker,” he said,

“Our target before was to stay in the league and we have done it. We have three games left and every point that we earn now will be a bonus.”

Kuala Lumpur are sixth with 27 points while Pahang are ninth with 17 points.

Pahang coach Dollah Salleh rued his team’s poor defending.

“We were just careless and gave away two easy goals. We paid for our mistakes. Our finishing was not good,” he lamented.