Just A Few Things: PJ City Vs. Perak

Credit: Malaysian Football League

Quick & Not-So-Precise

It took a while for the visitors to get going. With PJ City usually having five at the back when they lose possession would likely see the opponents struggle if they don’t increase their game. However, Perak finally woke up after 15 minutes and upped the intensity. As a result, they were able to stretch the PJ defence, utilizing space and catch their wing-backs out.

The fast approach paid off on 19 minutes. Careca played a through pass for Ronaldo Silva and the Brazilian forward clinically finished with a low shot past PJ City keeper, Muhaimin Mohamad. Perak though should’ve scored one or two more had they not skied most of their efforts or Muhaimin was there to deny the other one or two shots.

They could’ve been punished for their misfiring strikes had PJ City not wasted their two golden chances with Safee Sali’s low shot cleared off the line by Amirul Azhan with Hafizul Hakim well beaten and R. Barath Kumar astonishingly shot straight at Haziful in a glorious one-on-one situation on 89 minutes. But in the end, Perak are deserved winners having been looking the more threatening.

What Does He Have To Do?

There was a talking point even before the match started. After scoring a hat-trick in a high-profile match (Because it was a World Cup/Asia Cup qualifying), most people would surely expect Shahrel ‘Eky’ Fikri to be given a start here. Perak head coach Mehmet Durakovic though has other ideas. Eky found himself being on the bench instead with Durakovic retaining Careca as the attacking-midfielder and Ronaldo Silva up front.

The decision drew ire from fans and non-fans alike as they wonder what does Eky have to do to nail down a starting position. Maybe even Eky himself must be thinking the same thing too. Nevertheless, he was bought on around the hour mark for Nor Hakim Hassan. However, he is slotted on the right-wing with J. Partiban moving to the left.

Therefore, he is unable to use his full ability, although he did set up a few chances from the right. But he needs to play in the middle as a CF a lot more. Ronaldo Silva’s winner perhaps didn’t help his matters too. Eky has to think about his situation if he still doesn’t get enough regular game time.

Tempers Flaring

The second half was much more intense for all the wrong reasons. Perhaps it stemmed from inconsistency by the referee Mat Zan Abdul Wahab making a few questionable calls in the first half. But following a brief coming together during the second half, every time a foul was committed or a call going against them, there is bound to be some complaint by either one of the teams.

Yellow cards and fouls were everywhere that someone was bound to get a second booking and have an early bath. Sadly, that was what happened to PJ City captain S. Subramaniam who was sent off for a second yellow. He even went down on his knees and begged not to be shown another booking, but Mat Zan ignored his pleas.

Thankfully, the tempers didn’t escalate further and there wasn’t an all-out brawl. There was just good old-fashioned complaining and face-to-face confrontation, although whether either side’s complaints are justified depended on what the situation was.