PETALING JAYA: For one half, Negri Sembilan coach Daniel Gimenez Alcaniz was in dreamland but by the final whistle of their FA Cup round of 16, second leg match against Kelantan City on Tuesday, he was left bewildered.
“We did the most difficult part – to score two in the first half – and we were in dreamland,” said Alcaniz at the post match conference in Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium, Paroi.
“Then we got two ‘slaps’ to bring us back to reality.”
Despite their 3-2 victory on the night, the Deer were ultimately eliminated from the Cup on a 3-4 aggregate loss to A1 Semi-Pro League side Kelantan City.
“I’ve been trying to understand what happened.
“Sometimes it’s easy to pinpoint the players or the coach but today I really don’t know.”
Negri started the night strong with first-half goals from Yusuke Minagawa and Akhyar Rashid to wipe out Kelantan’s first-leg advantage in the first half.
However, their fortunes changed after the break when the league two side scored two goals in two minutes – a 52nd-minute header from Dandy Arbdallah and a wonder strike from near the halfway line by Mohd Ashraf Aliffuddin Yasin in the 54th minute.
The Deer made a final push with a 90th-minute goal from Korean defender Park Yi-young, but there was no time for another.
Alcaniz, who took over Negri in June, hoped that the result would not deter his squad too much.
“It’s like a new marriage. You don’t run away at the first fight.
“This is when we have to face things together. If we manage that, we will come back stronger.”
Negri will next face Super League leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim tomorrow at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
