PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur captain and striker Paulo Josue turned back the clock with his lethal left foot by striking twice from free-kicks in the City Boys’ 3-1 win over Kelantan in the Super League on Friday.
The 37-year-old may have lost a yard of pace with age, but his experience on the ball proved decisive as KL claimed their second win at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru on Friday
Josue’s feat also reminded fans that he is still one of the best set-piece takers in the country.
“Set-pieces are always a great opportunity for every team, and last night I was happy to hit two good balls and see them both find the target,’’ he said.
“It’s always difficult for any goalkeeper when you hit the ball hard and with accuracy towards goal.”
Josue now has four goals in all competitions and attributed his good start in the Super League to playing in the recent Hyundai AFF Cup with Malaysia.
“I’m glad to have had a good start to the new season. I think I have to thank the national team competition before the league started,’’ he added.
‘’It gave me proper game minutes and helped me come back to KL in good shape, ready to help the boys.”
Against Kelantan, KL fell behind just before half-time when Nigerian winger Philip Dandada Musa pounced on a poor back pass from KL midfielder Saiful Jamaluddin and slotted the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Ameerul Eqhwan Fauzi.
But KL roared back after the break, scoring three superb goals in reply.
Centreback Adam Nor Azlin produced the first moment of magic in the 53rd minute, meeting Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s header from a corner with an audacious scissor-kick despite being surrounded by three defenders.
Josue then took centrestage. In the 57th minute, he curled a stunning free-kick from 21 metres past Kelantan goalkeeper Wan Harif Hazli and in the 82nd, he rifled home an even better effort from almost 35 metres out to complete the win.
KL moved up to fifth in the table with six points from four matches, while Kelantan remain rooted at the bottom with zero points from four games.
