sel coach
PETALING JAYA: Things can go wrong even after we do everything right, and for Selangor head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi (pic), that’s what happened when he secured his first win with the Red Giants.
Selangor won 4-0 against Dynamic Herb Cebu in their final AFC Champions League 2 Group H fixture on Thursday, but it wasn’t enough to see the squad advance to the knockout stage.
Their rivals Muangthong United stunned South Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with a 1-0 upset in the other match to confirm their place.
Selangor were left in third place just one point shy of making it to the round of 16, but Kinoshi accepted the reality of things and remained proud of his players’ performance to give him his first win at the helm.
“We showed our style of play, our mentality on the pitch and that is important for Selangor. We did what we needed to do and I am proud of the players’ hard work,” said Kinoshi.
“I am satisfied with the result, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough for us to qualify. But we must look ahead and focus on our next match,” he said.
During the match, Selangor’s breakthrough came a minute before half-time as Alvin Fortes’ precise cross from the left flank found Yohandry Orozco, who directed the header into the top corner.
Orozco doubled his goal count just three minutes into the second half, skillfully controlling a long pass from Nooa Laine before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Laine then scored one for himself in the 57th minute as he smashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box before Fortes fired a clinical finish in the 79th minute to seal the win for the visiting side.
The Red Giants will be taking on Negri Sembilan in the Super League next on Monday.
The 33-time Malaysia Cup winners will also play in the Challenge Cup quarter-final fixture against Kelantan United on Thursday after bowing out of the Malaysia Cup with a 2-3 defeat on aggregate to Pahang in round of 16.
All the losers in the Malaysia Cup play in the Challenge Cup.
