Just A Few Things: PJ City Vs. Terengganu

Credit: Malaysian Football League

Patience Is A Virtue

Both sides started off the match in a rather normal tempo. But it benefitted the home side nicely as they took time and used it to mull over their next move in attack by doing their best to hold up play. They enjoyed most of the possession and had Terengganu on the backfoot.

The fact that Terengganu themselves were playing at a lower tempo helped PJ City even further. PJ City got their reward when Safee Sali lays the ball off nicely for P. Rajes’ run into the box and the right wing-back struck a powerful low shot between the legs of Terengganu keeper, Suffian Rahman. Despite having a few sniffs themselves, the Turtles were lackluster in the first 45 minutes. Once half-time came…

It Was Just A Tempo-rary Setback

Terengganu head coach, Irfan Bakti realized that the way they’re playing is benefitting the home side to have a proper go as well as not troubling PJ City enough. As a result, he changed it up by telling the Terengganu players to play with more intensity. Once the second half started, they looked far better. They constantly bombarded the PJ box with attacks with a lot more urgency. So urgent that PJ City can’t resume their first-half control into the second.

The high tempo played by Terengganu in the second half had swung the tie in their favor. It paid off on 67 minutes when a cross from the left induced chaos. Muhaimin was able to get a hand on it, but PJ City captain B. Tinagaran somehow finished the ball well into his own net. It may have come from luck. But it was nothing short of the Turtles deserved. It was all hands on deck for PJ even before that goal came.

The visitors perhaps should’ve got another one or two goals had Sanjar Shaakhmedov’s low drive hit the post before the first goal came or Abdul Malik Mat Ariff somehow not missed from about 3 yards out and scored the second much earlier. Ultimately, they do get the winning goal (More on that later) and perhaps it is nothing short of what the Turtles deserved following a hardworking second-half.

A New System

PJ City head coach K. Devan found himself missing of his Brazilian striker, Paulo Henrique. Despite having Thamil Arasu in his ranks, K. Devan opted to experiment with a 3-4-3 system rather than his usual 3-5-2 formation. The thinking here is perhaps Safee does not have enough support when going for a counter and he would have two players in support rather than just one. G. Ganiesh & Bae Beom-Geun were slotted as wingers.

While it sounds ideal, in practice as we just saw, it wasn’t working out. The only one who has pace in that front three was Ganiesh, but unfortunately, his decision-making was questionable. It looks clear that whatever attacking set-up they put out doesn’t yield rewards. And that is why…

Look Into The Window

If PJ City wants to replicate the kind of football that got them to their best ever season since its inception when they were known as MISC-MIFA, they need to get into shopping mode once the next transfer window comes. They haven’t adequately replaced Kpah Sherman & L’Imam Seydi, both of whom are powerhouses that especially looked threatening on the counter and it’s hurting their season.

Safee isn’t that type of player that looks to scare opponents with his runs and is more towards a mix between an advanced and a deep-lying forward. Besides, Sherman and Seydi’s physique was also a key aspect in the counter runs. Devan at least can utilize Paulo Henrique’s ability to that effect, but failing to get another striker like Sherman or Seydi, is hurting their chances to get results and move up the table.

Kipre’s Resurgence Continues

It looks as though Kipre Tchetche is nearing to put his disappointing goal drought behind him. Finally opening his account in an FA Cup 3rd round tie against Kelantan United, he scored a brace against FELDA and now here against PJ City. Kipre worked his socks off with his incisive movements that Devan was worried about in his pre-match interviews.

Muhaimin though proved to be a worthy opponent, denying the Ivorian a few of his chances and was very alert to get the ball before Kipre could do so. In the end, Kipre finally beat Muhaimin after a whipped cross came in and he glanced the header into the net. He was a major focal point in most of Terengganu’s attacks and deserved this goal after putting in a great shift.