Just A Few Things: Kuala Lumpur City Vs. Johor Darul Takzim

Skrip Yang Hampir Sama

If the Malaysia Super League is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, then JDT is the main character, CJ where he said “Ah, here we go again”. Because it’s almost the same script written for Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) when they lost to Terengganu last week. Almost because at least they didn’t lose this time, but more irritating, they didn’t win too.

They dominated proceedings, only to fall behind against the run of play once again just before half-time. What made the fact they conceded worse was they had two well-taken chances hitting the woodwork: First was from Leandro Velazquez hitting the post from a tight angle and then Gonzalo Cabrera firing a thunderbolt that beat the keeper, but not the crossbar.

They once again have to work hard to find the equalizer. But the difference between this script and last week was that they did score the equalizer thanks to Hariss Harun’s header following a Nazmi Faiz’ corner. They then set about to find the winner, but in each of the times they went forward and looked threatening, they kept getting frustrated by the KL defence (As to how and why; we’ll get into that shortly). But the ending to this match is not what JDT wanted as they didn’t come away with a win.

Max Effort, Little Returns, Big Worry

You can’t help but imagine what every JDT attacker who was on the pitch for both matches must be feeling right now despite keeping a good, steady tempo in both of them. Across their matches against Terengganu & now Kuala Lumpur City (KL City), JDT has a total of 43 shots and 24 of them were on-target. They take control of a match, have a lot of shots and they still couldn’t get more of what they want.

However, it’s only just two matches-in-a-row they’ve gone winless and they still have their dominant streak at the very least. So if they keep this up, goals will surely come flying in. For now, they need to regroup because their midweek match has taken a lot more importance: Kedah Darul Aman who has narrowed the gap to first to just one point after beating Melaka United 3-1 away. The stakes could not have been much higher. If there’s ever a better time for goals to come in for JDT, it would be at Alor Setar come Tuesday.

Multiple Obstacles

Looking at the shot on-target breakdown, you would understand once again why JDT was frustrated. JDT had 12 shots on target, but eight of them (Yes, eight) were blocked. This is largely due to the KL City defenders crowding their own box and close down space quickly. And that made it difficult for JDT’s shooting artillery to get the ball on goal. KL City keeper Kevin Ray Mendoza also showed good bravery to catch any aerial balls coming into the box as other than that, he was mostly untroubled.

Not only that, Bergson would often drop deep in the hope a KL defender would get dragged out of position, which is a reason why Bergson only had just three shots on this night compared to last week’s whopping total of 12 shots against Terengganu. But almost no one from the KL City defence didn’t take Bergson’s bait dropping deep so whenever JDT do have the ball in promising positions, Bergson would find himself out of position and the resolute KL defence didn’t help matters either for the other attackers looking to deliver or take shots.

JDT had 19 shots overall with eight of them blocked as mentioned. But with JDT hitting the woodwork twice, only made Mendoza sweat one time other than the goal and the remaining seven shots going off-target Vs. KL City as well as you take into consideration that there was a lack of quality in their chances Vs. Terengganu last week, you can’t help but feel the lack of proficiency lately is somewhat concerning.

(Almost) Credible Citizens

You have to give KL City and Bojan Hodak credit. They did give their visitors something to think about. Not only they held their own defensively, they actually have a good amount of shots and promising attacks themselves despite midfielder Romel Morales playing out of position at centre forward once again. Only this time, the Colombian did what he was asked to do as he beat the last defender to latch on a headed pass by Fakhrul Aiman before slotting his low shot into the net much to KL City’s jubilation.

KL had 11 shots with five on-target. Unfortunately, what ultimately prevented KL City from getting the 2nd goal, let alone being threatening more, is a lack of quality in the final third with Fakhrul and Hadin Azman all spurning great chances. There were a few times KL City would attack on the break, there is a sense that not only they could have done a better final pass, they also could have made better decisions. Nevertheless, it’s an encouraging point to earn for the City Boys. And another positive out of all this? KL City didn’t concede after 88 minutes like the five goals they let in in the last four games.

Here’s The Ting About The Right Flank

If there was one avenue JDT perhaps could’ve utilized more, it’s going through the right flank. KL City left-back Daniel Ting had a laboured day in trying to keep Arif Aiman quiet. In a duel between Daniel and Arif, Arif would often win the battles due to his slick movements and footwork giving the young winger space to deliver the ball into the box or get a shot away. It’s hard to pinpoint whenever Daniel actually did get the best of Arif.

Despite a bright performance, Arif was one of the first players to be subbed for Safawi Rasid. And almost immediately, Safawi won a duel against Daniel as he usually cuts inside to get the better of the left-back before he was cut out by other KL defenders. There was a chink in KL’s armour down on that right flank, but it’s strange JDT did not attack that wing more often.

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