Just A Few Things: JDT vs N9

Credit: johorsoutherntigers.com.my

Where’s The Energy?

It was a battle of first versus last as Negeri Sembilan (N9) visited the home of the league leaders. On paper, it seems Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) will repeat the demolition in the reverse fixture. Strangely though, they took a while to get it going. Almost the whole of the match, JDT looked casual, but so did N9. Tempo of the match looked lethargic and the energy levels seemed low. Maybe the weather played a part of it.

Although, JDT as expected did dominate, they did not exactly overrun the N9 defence. N9 on the other hand never looked like they’re going to score and the JDT defence had an easy night. N9 keeper Ilham Amirullah did well to pull off a few good saves to keep the scoreline at a respectable level. However…

We Need To Talk More About Cabrera

There was nothing Ilham can do about the brilliance of Gonzalo Cabrera. The Argentine winger has been one of JDT’s best players so far and he showed why. Making fast runs that lead to the first goal where he was clinical from Nazmi Faiz’ cutback by shooting in the lower right corner from the left just outside the box.

Cabrera then put the icing on the cake when he received a through pass during a counter-attack and took the ball away from an incoming Ilham to tuck away the ball into the open net. His running & technique deserve more applauds and recognition after an excellent run of form that saw him getting six goals in the last seven league games.

Eight Is (More Than) Enough

Here we go again. Might as well wrap up the league title here and now. Due to their closest challengers taking painful losses last night, JDT took full advantage and go eight points clear in first place. The amount of points may well be a step too far for Pahang and Perak, who are the closest to the top.

There’s no denying that JDT having the resources to be a force is one major reason to why they are so comfortable at the top in recent years. Although, I can’t help but feel the reasons below are also why JDT has not been vigorously tested as pictured in this meme I created (If you don’t get it, look up ‘Eric Andre meme’):
 

Miracle Needed In N9

At the same time, you might as well also wrap up one relegation spot to N9. Yes, it sounds cruel, but they’re six points off 10th place and if the way they play against JDT is anything to go by, an immediate return to the 2nd division seems to be inevitable.

They never looked inspired to at least give a go at the league champions. Caretaker head coach, Asri Ninggal has to repeat his early 2017 season heroics to muster something out this team while Mario Lemos is working to get a recognition letter for his coaching license before he resumes control and even then we’re not sure how long will that take. Although with the lower ranked teams beating or drawing each other commonly happening, they may have a slight chance.

But with no commandment in defence, the midfield failing to protect the backline and offered little creativity that caused the main forward to be often isolated, a miracle is needed in Jalan Merak (The street where Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman is located) to pull off the great escape.