KUALA LUMPUR: Perak coach Yusri Che Lah’s (pic) decision to keep Nur Azfar Fikri Azhar paid dividends as Perak came from behind to beat Kuala Lumpur 2-1 in the Super League at the Cheras Football Stadium yesterday.
Azfar was injured but the coach decided to keep him and he scored in the 81st minute for the winner.
“I was told by my assistant Shahrulnizam (Mustapha) that Azfar had a knee injury but I said let’s wait. Despite the injury, I needed him to balance the play and it was the right call,” said Yusri.
“I guess it was his luck and I’m happy for him. He deserved the goal with his good performance today.
“It is rare for Perak to win in Cheras. We kept it simple and the players delivered,” said Yusri.
But it was the home side who drew first blood in the 31st minute when Paulo Josue scored past goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli.
In the second half, Perak were the much better side, having most of the possession but just could not find any stability in the attacking third, constantly misplacing passes and missing chances.
But they eventually got their break.
In the 71st minute, Azfar was tackled by Declan Lambert in the penalty box. But match referee Shukor Zulkiflee waved away the protest from Perak players saying Azfar was offside.
However after a two-minute VAR check, the penalty was eventually given, with Declan receiving a yellow card. Perak captain and midfielder Luciano Guaycochea buried the penalty in the 76th minute.
Azfar then turned hero when he dribbled past three Kuala Lumpur defenders before making a superb finish past goalkeeper Azri Ghani.
Azfar was delighted after the game, saying that the win was a team effort.
“I’m glad we won, and it was a great team effort,” said the 25-year-old.
Perak remain seventh in the standings with 27 points from 22 games, while Kuala Lumpur stay sixth with 28 points from 22 matches.
