FA Cup: Penang FC To Fight For Pride In Second Leg - Wan Rohaimi

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Penang FC are refusing to throw in the towel despite facing a five-goal deficit ahead of their 2026/2027 FA Cup quarter-final second-leg match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Oct 9.

Head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail said the Panthers will still go all out and fight for the full 90 minutes after losing 7-2 in the first leg at the City Stadium here today.

“We are five goals down and playing at their fortress. However, we cannot just surrender.

“We are going there to compete, not to sell our pride. Whatever happens, we have to give everything throughout the 90 minutes,” he said at a post-match press conference.

Commenting on the heavy defeat, Wan Rohaimi said several individual defensive errors, particularly involving the goalkeeper, allowed easy goals for the opposition.

He said the nervousness of the backup goalkeeper, who had not featured in a long time, was a key factor in the team's downfall, especially when Penang FC tried to mount a comeback after reducing the margin early in the second half.

Wan Rohaimi expressed hope that Penang FC's two main goalkeepers, Mohamad Ramadhan Ab. Hamid and Muhammad Khairulazhan Mohd Khalid, would recover from injury within the next two weeks to feature in the second leg.

Meanwhile, JDT head coach Xisco Munoz admitted his squad showed a better performance in the second half after failing to pose a real threat despite controlling the game in the first half.

“The second half was a little bit better. I think in the first half we played well because we had 100 per cent control of the ball, but we weren't dangerous.

Munoz said a congested fixture list left his players fatigued, but praised their commitment to delivering their best, describing the victory as a solid cushion for the return leg.

-- BERNAMA