Just A Few Things: PKNS Vs. Perak

Credits: PKNS FC

Soak & Fire

The thing is: Perak had most of the possession and kept peppering the PKNS box with passes and crosses. PKNS though had a calm demeanor and piled a few bodies to repel any Perak attack that comes in their way. Although there was nothing they can do to prevent Gilmar jumping high to head in Wander Luiz corner. Still, that was as good as it got to a goal for Perak. PKNS looked solid in defence and not let any room for Wander Luiz & Nor Hakim Hassan to get in to create chaos with Romel Morales & K. Gurusamy committed to help out their back-line.

Now with Matos in PKNS’ arsenal, they can use the pace and tenacity of Matos & Faris Ramli to strike back and take the tempo up a notch. Perak may have left two or three people back, but they couldn’t contain Matos, Ramazotti & Faris. Perak may try to carve chances, but PKNS were a far more potent team and the result proves it.

Following their win and Sunday’s results, PKNS achieved their highest finish ever in the top division. Finishing third place just a point behind Perak. They are in the right direction and Rajagobal proves that he is the right man for the job, despite a few blips during the season. All they have to do is show up where it really matters like in the big games and they’re all set.

Down On The Mat-os

How good is Bruno Matos right now? He delivered another brace to help condemn an inspire-less Perak side to a 4-1 defeat. He got the ball rolling when he delivered a sucker punch when he used his pace to get ahead of the defence to poke the ball past Hafizul after only two minutes. He then reacted quickly by running back to pick up Rafael Ramazotti’s header and his shot trickled in to score PKNS’ third.

Fast, clinical and creative. Those are just a few words to describe Matos. Can you imagine if PKNS found him in the beginning of the season? They would’ve been far more deadlier. Because since Matos joined and made his debut away at Selangor, PKNS scored 18 goals in the nine remaining league matches he was involved in and had a hand in 13 of them by scoring seven and assisting six. If there is a mid-season signing of the season, he would be a heavy favorite to win that.

Perak Puzzled

Perak had faced PKNS three times this season and has not won in all of them. Losing 2-0 at home in the league along with a 4-3 aggregate defeat where they failed to make their return home to the Ipoh Stadium count in the second leg, they have a confusing conundrum in their hands on how to squish the Red Ants.

Still, on their best days, the football they play is excellent with Wander Luiz and Nor Hakim breathtakingly creating the tempo to trouble their opponents’ defence. Although on the downside, if they run to a wall like how PKNS built, they will be in trouble. What was worrying is that Durakovic doesn’t seem to have a Plan B if they face an opponent like The Red Ants.

They kept playing the long balls, dribbles and passes into the box but the creativity wasn’t there. Every time Perak do that, they will face an obstacle to go further inside and they were often dispossessed. Perak did have two promising openings, but Gilmar’s powerful low free-kick was stopped by Zarif Irfan and Wander Luiz couldn’t guide Leandro Dos Santos’ low cross point blank by the far post. It took 25 minutes after the restart for Durakovic to make a change and despite that, it didn’t yield any positive impact. Perak looked almost clueless getting something out of that.

Hostility Setting In

It was a dreadful defeat, yes. But it looks like the pressure has built up a lot more, given how Perak lost here, on Mehmet Durakovic. When Romel scored PKNS fourth goal, ironic and sarcastic cheers were heard from the visiting fans. The chance to seal second was lost and now has to rely on Selangor to prevent Terengganu from winning. What came after the full-time whistle though were jeers and chants that said ‘Mehmet Out!’. Durakovic did well to walk straight back into the locker room to avoid more conflict.

Fans may want him out, but is calling the sacking of Durakovic justified? The man has lead Perak to a top four finish for the first time since 2012 and a strong run in last season’s Malaysia Cup (Before getting knocked out by old foe Johor Darul Takzim in the semis). They looked much better compared to the last few years and they now are in the AFC Champions League qualifying following what happened on Sunday, where they will face Kitchee of Hong Kong first. Was there something more than meets the eye that lead to the fans’ dissatisfactory feelings for their head coach?

There’s still one more saving grace. With the league over for them, Perak now can turn their attention to the Malaysia Cup. He has won the prestigious trophy before three years ago with Selangor, but if Durakovic can’t win it let alone putting up a strong fight, the situation would definitely be worse for the Australian.