PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur will head into the lion’s den seeking to overturn a slim one goal deficit after losing to Terengganu in the first leg semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup.
The City Boys coach Nenad Bacina says he has faith in his charges to overcome the hosts in the return leg on Nov 3 and qualify for their second final appearance in three years.
On Saturday, the 2021 title holders succumbed 1-2 to Terengganu after a late surge by their opponents at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras. Terengganu had to wait until the second minute of stoppage time in the first half to break the deadlock through Croatian Ivan Mamut.
Nik Sharif Haseefy Lazim then scored Terengganu’s second goal in the 89th minute before Ivory Coast’s Tchetche Kipre converted a penalty shot in injury time to reduce the deficit.
Bacina is optimistic they will come back stronger.
“Our three pillars – Paulo Josue (Brazil), Ryan Lambert and Romel Morales (Colombia) were unable to play in the first semi-final match,” said Bacina.
“Paulo and Ryan were suspended while Romel was sick. We will face them again in a fortnight and there is enough time to bring my strongest team there in Terengganu.
“They will have the home crowd rooting for them but that could also be a disadvantage if we can gain possession from the start.
“If we can open up the game in the right way from the start, we have a chance to upset them and enter the final again.
“We will try to regroup, that’s for sure,” he said.
Terengganu certainly need no reminding of what KL are capable of.
KL crushed Terengganu’s dream of reaching the FA Cup final this season when they won 4-2 via penalty shootout in the semi-finals at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in June.
Terengganu coach Tomislav Steinbruckner felt his team squandered several opportunities for a bigger winning margin.
“We should have scored a couple more goals as we had several good chances,” said Steinbruckner.
“But credit should go to the players for playing well.
“I told my good friend Nenad that he should feel lucky as the scoreline was only 2-1.
“We will have to be ready as KL will have stronger players ready by then.”
