PETALING JAYA: Teto Martin enjoyed a dream outing in an unfamiliar role after being deployed as a striker for the first time by Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and the gamble paid off big time.
The 24-year-old midfielder was in devastating form, netting six goals as the Southern Tigers demolished Police 10-1 in the Malaysia Cup round of 16 first-leg clash at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium yesterday.
Head coach Xisco Munoz was delighted with the outcome after making the bold call to push the Spaniard Martin into the forward line.
"I think Teto (Martin) is a striker. It was his first time playing as a forward," Munoz said with a chuckle during the post-match press conference.
Martin wasted no time stamping his authority, scoring in the third and seventh minutes to set the tone.
After the break, JDT raised the tempo as Nazmi Faiz Mansor struck in the 48th minute before Martin added two more goals in the 50th and 62nd minutes. He completed his double hattrick with strikes in the 73rd and 94th minutes.
JDT’s other goals came from Marcos Guilherme (66th, 90th) and Manuel Hidalgo (87th), while Imran Samso scored Police’s lone consolation in the 60th minute.
Despite taking a commanding advantage into the second leg on Jan 24, Munoz stressed that complacency would not creep in.
"We just need to continue with this winning mentality. Every game is important," he said.
"I’m not disappointed that we conceded a goal, but we need to understand why it happened and find a solution."
Meanwhile, it was also a memorable night for Penang as new signing Douglas Coutinho marked his debut by scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Kuching City in their first-leg tie at the City Stadium in Georgetown.
The Brazilian, on loan from Indonesian club Borneo Samarinda, headed home Erick Brandon’s pinpoint freekick in the 39th minute.
Penang nearly doubled their lead late on, but substitute Dylan Wenzel-Halls saw his effort ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
The return leg will be played at the State Stadium in Kuching on Jan 24, with Penang’s win extending their fine run to four consecutive victories and clean sheets this year.
