KUALA LUMPUR: Pahang coach Fandi Ahmad appeared calm and composed during the post-match press conference but deep down, he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
The Singaporean legend had hoped his team could defy the odds and lift the Malaysia Cup after an 11-year wait.
The Elephants put up a brave fight at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday, but ultimately Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) star quality shone through as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.
Reflecting on the match, Fandi felt that the turning point came in the 34th minute when Sergio Aguero was sent off for dissent — a setback that disrupted their game plan.
“If it had stayed 11 versus 11 in the first half, we would have had a real chance to push for the win,” said Fandi.
“Even after going a man down, the game remained open. JDT kept probing to break us down, but that’s football.”
Fandi praised his players for giving everything they had.
“My boys gave 200 percent. We kept fighting even with 10 men. With 11, we believed we could have pulled off an upset. Certain factors were beyond our control,” he said.
“The second half didn’t go our way, but I’m proud of the character, determination, discipline, and teamwork we showed.”
The officiating came under heavy scrutiny from fans, with match referee Razlan Joffri Ali facing criticism for several contentious decisions. Fandi, however, refused to be drawn into the controversy.
When asked if his pre-match quote – Keadilan itu tanda kemakmuran (justice is a sign of prosperity)”– had relevance after the game, Fandi chuckled and replied, “I’m not sure. We just work hard – you saw the game. I don’t need to say more.”
Pressed further about Razlan’s past suspension for controversial decisions, Fandi remained diplomatic.
“It has nothing to do with me. Whoever appointed him, it’s their concern, not mine,” he said.
“I’m just disappointed we lost – and losing a player mid-game hurt us badly. People who watched will have their own opinions.”
Fandi also voiced his frustration with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, particularly regarding JDT’s winning goal.
“Take Arif Aiman’s winner. From the footage, it looked slightly offside, but VAR didn’t review it. That upset us.”
On Aguero’s red card, Fandi revealed that the player regretted his actions.
“He’s emotional. Some players lose their cool and do silly things, but they’re human. He apologised to the team – but it’s something that cannot happen again,” he said.
