Police keeper: Robson Rendy Rining.
PETALING JAYA: Not much would have been expected from second-stringers but Police coach P. Maniam still wasn’t a happy man after the final whistle.
Police did not field their first team against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the Super League to prepare for the two-legged Challenge Cup against Selangor.
The result was a resounding 0-4 defeat against the defending league champions at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Wednesday.
Without goalkeeper Bryan See, strikers Ifedayo Olusegun and Bruno Suzuki, and midfielder Chidi Osuchukwu, the Cops resorted to ultra-defensive tactics, but it was not enough to silence the stylish JDT performance.
The Southern Tigers goals were scored by Colombian striker Jorge Obregon (14th minute), wingback La’vere Corbin-Ong (39th), Spanish attacker Jese Rodriguez (55th) and striker Romel Morales (81st).
After the final whistle, Maniam said his charges did their best but the scoreline was less than flattering.
“We conceded four, which to me, was too much. In the first-half, we conceded two but did not give JDT lots of space for shooting and crossing,” said the former Selangor and Petaling Jaya City tactician.
“In the second-half, we were loose and allowed them into the game. The players gave their best but this is what we have at the moment. We have to be better in future games.
“Since we played a lot of players who weren’t regulars, I got to see any potential player who could be playing for the first team.”
Maniam commended goalkeeper Robson Rendy Rining, midfielders Fakhrul Azim Zulphatah and Eizrul Ashraf Nor Effendy, winger Imran Samso and leftback Alif Naqiuddin Shouffi for their performance.
“Quality is there but we need more from them if they want regular first-team outings. They have to do their work in training.”
After the game against JDT, Police stay seventh in the Super League with 21 points from 18 games, while JDT remain top with 55 points from 19 matches.
Police are prioritising the Challenge Cup because they are the defending champions of the tournament.
They will take on Selangor at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Feb 15, and the second-leg will be held at the Selayang Stadium on Feb 22.
