PETALING JAYA: Kelantan City coach Alfredo Gonzalez insisted his players “lost with honour” after their 4-1 FA Cup quarter-final second leg defeat to Kuching City, even as he questioned several refereeing decisions that he felt shaped the result.
The Uruguayan said his side, nicknamed the Red Fighter, needed time to find their rhythm but grew into the match.
“At the beginning, we were disorganised and needed around 20 to 25 minutes to settle into the game. After that, the team started playing the way I wanted,” he said.
“However, I have serious doubts about some of the goals we conceded. In my opinion, the first goal should not have stood, the second was offside, and the third came after a foul. These decisions changed the game.”
He acknowledged Kuching City’s attacking strength, particularly the quality they can bring off the bench but felt the scoreline did not fully reflect the contest.
Many of Kuching’s chances, he insisted, also stemmed from his own players’ mistakes.
He also pointed to a difficult build-up, saying travel commitments had cost his players a proper training session.
“We travelled from Kota Baru to KL and then here, arriving at the hotel at around 5pm the day before the game. There was not enough time to train at the proper facilities, so we had to train on the street.
“These small details can make a big difference.”
