Just A Few Things KL Vs. Melaka
Credit- Melaka United Soccer Association
KL Comeback Cruelly In Vain
KL was easily torn to shreds that allowed Melaka to help themselves to three goals. Their strong home record since Matchday 3 was in jeopardy in shocking fashion given how easily they allowed them to go in and Sharbinee Allawee can only do so much.
But Kl threw themselves a lifeline when Paulo Josue pulled one back for the City Boys before half-time. Whatever was said by head coach Fabio Magrao during half-time had the intended effect. They stormed the Melaka box and took only three minutes after the restart when Guilherme De Paula headed in a second.
The comeback was initially complete when the ball unfortunately flicked off Khair Jones hand, awarding KL a penalty and Guilherme duly scored to make it 3-3 on 71 minutes. Only for KL to lose focus five minutes later that allowed Melaka to retake the lead and scored the final goal of the match. It was a strong effort, but sadly for KL, those efforts in the end rewarded nothing.
Melaka’s Incredible Transformation
E. Elavarasan came in a few weeks ago for his second spell at Melaka United and had a monumental job to revitalize the team. Along the way from his appointment until now, he and Melaka made full use of the transfer window to bring in fresh faces. The work done to transform Melaka into a solid team has yielded visible results.
Melaka showed more heart and focus in both attack & defence to unnerve KL and did very well to do so. They took advantage of KL’s high defensive line to play long passes that provided two of their goals and kept a fine defensive shape whenever KL attacked by compacting the middle of their own half between just outside of their own box and the halfway-line.
Despite the scare given to them, Melaka came away with the three points thanks to a new hero in town (More on that later). The changes made to the staff and team has worked wonders that has now saw them winning two hard away matches in a row after previously winning none, their hitman Yahor Zubovich also scoring his first away goals two away matches in a row and further distance themselves from the drop zone. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s great progress nonetheless.
Ifedayo Shines Brightly
Ifedayo Olusegun was bought in just before the transfer window closed to replace South Korean midfielder Jeon Woo-Young and was thrust straight into the starting line-up, although playing as a second striker off Yahor Zubovich instead of on the wings where he played during his stint at FELDA United last season.
And it proved to be a transfer worth making. The Nigerian forward put on a ‘man of the match’ performance, helping himself to two goals that included the winner when he cleverly flicked a low cross into the net after KL thought they completed the comeback. Apart from finishing, his pace was also key to punish KL’s high defensive line as he outrun Achmad Jufriyanto to score Melaka’s second.
His energetic mobility and finishing can take the heat off Zubovich as the lone source of goals. After tonight, a deadly strike partnership has been potentially formed by Melaka United.
Fabio’s Potent Changes
Give credit when it’s due, KL head coach Fabio Magrao’s changes almost worked wonders. He made a half-time double sub with Zaquan Adha & Azmeer Yusof coming on for Syazwan Andik and Achmad Jufriyanto. The changes resulted in Irfan Zakaria moving into centre-back and that in turn allowed Indra Putra to return to his midfield position from the left-wing.
Not only that, Fabio realized a huge flaw in the system at half-time. And so, KL no longer played a high-defensive line to build from the back and allowed the midfield to build-up play. With the midfield dictating the centre of the field, it allowed the back-line to stay by their own penalty box to be ready in position whenever Melaka attacked with the midfield’s help to cut out any threat. To their credit, it did work. But, a lapse in concentration has cost them from winning at least a point. Imagine if they set up the way they did in the 2nd half in the first. They could’ve gotten so much more.
More Of The Same This Weekend?
The potentially best part of all this is, we may get more of the same not too long after. The match was an entertaining fiesta for all the neutrals and these teams will face each other yet again this weekend at the Hang Jebat Stadium. With the match fresh on their memories, it will allow Fabio and Elavarasan to make a tweak or two in order to not make the same mistakes again at Cheras.
For Fabio though, it will be much more difficult for him given the fact that KL had not won a point in all their away matches this season. But there is a source of inspiration from their opponents. If Melaka can end their away hoodoo, KL can do the same.