Just A Few Things: PKNS Vs. Terengganu

Credit: MFL

Better Late Than Never

It took them a while but PKNS finally got some rhythm flowing in their offence by the last third of the match. They were able to be a lot more faster & precise with the ball and looked good going forward. If it weren’t for some last-ditch defending and Ilham’s crucial saves, PKNS would’ve got their equalizing goal early. Somehow, Kpah Sherman’s tap-in was kept out off the line and Jafri Firdaus Chew’s effort beat Terengganu keeper Ilham Amirullah, but not the crossbar. 

Eventually PKNS did have their equalizing goal. PKNS head coach, K. Rajagobal, bought on Thai forward Kittiphong Pluemjai for Gabriel Guerra around 80 minutes and he didn’t take long to make a stunning impact when he lots home a low cross past Ilham a few minutes later to what PKNS thought that time, save a point.

But Terengganu had their own late show and threw a monkey wrench to the game’s script. Only six minutes after Kittiphong’s equalizer, Lee Tuck floated a deep free-kick by the far post and defender Nasrullah Haniff got ahead of his marker to float his header into the other end of the goal past the despairing Farhan for perhaps a deserving win for the Turtles.

Limited To 1D

But for an hour, PKNS looked cagey. When a team attacks PKNS, you would expect the Red Ants to attack on the break after winning back possession with Kpah Sherman bombing forward. One problem: Terengganu was always prepared for it. The Turtle’s defence was looking rock solid as turtle’s shell. There would always be at least three defenders staying back in anticipation of a counter while the midfielders and attackers do their thing.

A well-marshaled defence lead by the centre-back pairing of Nasrullah & Muhammad Mohd Faudzi successfully kept their discipline and frustrated Sherman. As a result, PKNS had to rely on long balls to supply for the Liberian striker. Sherman tried his best to control the aerial balls but the presence of Nasrullah & Faudzi deter any attack PKNS has to offer in that hour. It was too one-dimensional for PKNS’ liking and that hour spell of uninspired football largely contributed to their loss.

Swirad Kembali

PKNS may have a notable absentee with Rodney Celvin missing from the squad. However, they also have a notable return. Nicholas Swirad started for the first time since May 3rd against Perak FA. Swirad returns to his preferred position by being the centre-back to partner Kygryzstan international, Tamirlan Kozubaev. Swirad looked much more comfortable defending the centre, though had to be very busy to cut out any impending Terengganu offence. It’s a welcome sight to see him back on the field and hopefully can maintain his form to the very end of the local season.

Additional Support Needed

Terengganu have the brightest spell of the two teams. But some of the times where they had promising situations, they were lacking support. Every time they have the ball by the wings, almost no one was there to provide another option for the wingers to cross to. Nevertheless, they looked good going forward so it was a shame the end product wasn’t there

The first time urgent support came in fast from midfield, they (deservedly) took the lead. Sharin Sapien had loads of space on the right. Sensing Sanjar Shaakhmedov coming, Syamim was able to lay it off for the Uzbekistan man, who was able to able to fake out the PKNS keeper Farhan Abu Bakar.

Terengganu may have dominated possession, but need their players to be a lot more urgent to move forward and provide the support, especially in the box. It’s a good thing they got the eventual win. If they did not, they would’ve been left to rue those promising attacks.