Just A Few Things: Terengganu Vs. JDT - Malaysia Cup 2019 - QF - 1st Leg
Credit: Malaysian Football League
Go, Diogo, Go!
Even if you try to defend against Diogo Luis Santo, there’s still a chance the Brazilian striker will carve out something magical and there’s almost nothing you can do about it. In a labored match that was crying out for something special, Diogo delivered it on 24 minutes.
He got on the end of Safawi Rasid’s flick header from Mauricio’s long ball. Sensing Serhii Andrieiev coming from behind to close him down, Diogo flicked the ball over the towering Ukrainian defender with his right foot and scored with a wicked half-volley with his left foot to for the only goal of the match following a fine hard-working performance. What a first season he is having so far as he continues his fine form.
Still All To Play For
It could’ve been two up for JDT with two golden chances in the second half. Safawi Rasid’s low shot past the incoming Terengganu keeper Wan Azraie Wan Teh was going to trickle in, but Nasrullah Haniff ran as fast as he could to clear the ball off the line.
A few minutes later, Safawi was involved again as he played a low cross that Diogo laid it off for Leandro Velazquez. Somehow, the Venezuelan’s point-blank shot was excellently saved by Wan Azraie, whose vision was somewhat impeded by a few bodies.
JDT had to make do with just a goal, a crucial away goal no less and perhaps crucially, a clean sheet. But it’s still too slim of a lead to take. They can’t afford to make the same mistakes last year that saw them eliminated. JDT need to hurt Terengganu as early as possible to create some safe space and ease any tension.
As for Terengganu, they still have a chance but it’s already well known that it’s always going to be tough at Larkin. Looks like another magical performance like last year’s is needed.
Labored Turtles
Terengganu strangely could not make use of their home atmosphere to their favor. Kipre Tchetche had a good chance from Ashari Samsudin’s low cross on 34 minutes, but couldn’t guide it on-target. They had a good amount of possession, but they didn’t use it so well.
The only other great chance was Sanjar Shaakhmedov’s beautiful curler that needed a fingertip save by JDT keeper, Farizal Marlias on 65 minutes. But other than those two chances, Terengganu didn’t do enough to trouble JDT, let alone troubling Farizal.
They need to do more, a lot more if they want to get another impressive result at Larkin and passage into the Malaysia Cup semis. Because on account of this, their attacks look sloppy and it didn’t help that JDT did well defensively.
Lagi Sekali
We’ve been here before and we have to ask again about the refereeing standards. Wan Mohd Tarmizi who was in charge of the match, made a few confusing decisions following a lopsided performance. Such examples:
Booking Terengganu’s right-back, Hafizal Mohamad for a foul on Safawi when there was only minimal contact.
Didn’t give a yellow on Lee Tuck for a heavy challenge on Leandro Velazquez where he didn’t even get the ball by the left corner flag in Terengganu’s half.
Booked JDT’s Gonzalo Cabrera when replays showed that not only he and another Terengganu player were going for the ball, there was no contact between them whatsoever with Cabrera actually jumping out of a sliding challenge.
Didn’t punish Terengganu’s Khairul Izuan Rosli for a kick-out at La’vere Corbin Ong, though he did well to ease any heated tensions between both benches
Then, Tarmizi was being trigger happy with the yellow card in the second half, showing yellows to Hariss Harun, Nasrullah, Safawi & Diogo,. But he didn’t give a good case for himself throughout the whole match with inconsistent calls.