PETALING JAYA: Keeping Afghanistan international Fareed Sadat on the pitch long enough proved a wise call as fancied Kuala Lumpur fought for dear life to keep their FA Cup hopes alive.
The City Boys clawed their way back from 1-3 down to snatch a 3-3 draw against Brunei in the quarter-final first leg at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan on Sunday.
Kuala Lumpur coach Datuk Dollah Salleh admitted his side’s performance still falls short of his expectations, but was still full of praise for their fighting spirit.
“Even though we trailed from the first goal, we managed to equalise and then came back after going down 3-1,” said Dollah.
“I’m probably the happiest, because performance-wise we’re still not quite up to my expectations, but the fighting spirit was there.”
The six-goal thriller unfolded, with the City Boys twice fighting from behind before completing the comeback in the closing stages.
Sadat headed home a free-kick in the 77th to complete the comeback for a 3-3 draw.
Dollah said he was considering to substitute Sadat, who was playing his first match back from injury, before the striker’s equaliser changed his mind.
“I was almost about to take Fareed out, but the goalkeeper (Ameerul Eqhwan Mohd Fauzi) said, ‘wait, let’s watch for another five minutes.’
“True enough, he scored. He asked to come out himself after that.”
Brunei took the initiative first to break the deadlock through Australian striker Jordan Murray in the 18th minute, but Kuala Lumpur levelled via a Paulo Josue penalty in the 33rd.
The hosts then struck twice early in the second half, through winger Farris Izdiham Awang Kechik in the 54th minute and Portuguese midfielder Miguel Oliveira four minutes later, to lead 3-1.
Kuala Lumpur responded with two headers in the final quarter-hour, both created by Josue.
Winger Baqiuddin Shamsuddin pulled one back in the 72nd minute, before Sadat’s equaliser.
Dollah added that a lapse in concentration late in the game cost Brunei their advantage, but stressed his side must tighten up defensively before the second leg at the Cheras Football Stadium on Oct 11.
Brunei coach Jamie McAllister pointed to fatigue after a heavy run of fixtures.
“The previous games took a lot out of them. We were 3-1 up and controlling the game, but individual errors let them back in. We didn’t do the basics, gave away a silly corner, didn’t mark our man.”
McAllister also queried a yellow card he picked up for speaking to the fourth official, calling it “very silly,” though he said he remained calm throughout.
“I know I’m not supposed to speak about officials, but I was calm throughout the game and spoke to the official very politely.
“They gave away a silly free-kick, and I said to the fourth official in a calm way, ‘It’s a contact sport.’
“Then he shouted to the referee, and I got booked for that.
“For me, we should make a complaint because officials can’t just yell and hand out cards for no reason.”
