KDA FC coach disappointed result favoured JDT, praises team's performance

ALOR SETAR, May 5 - Kedah Darul Aman FC (KDA FC) coach Aidil Sharin Sahak admitted that he was disappointed that the result of their Super League macth last night favoured Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), but praised his team's performance.

He said all his players put on a sterling  performance and played as instructed so as to be able to contain JDT's pressure.

"A disappointing result (when JDT scored in the final minutes), but I am happy with the performance shown by all my players as they worked hard throughout the 90 minutes.

"The players have done their best, but JDT are not easy to beat because they are a strong team, anyway we accept this result and respect the referee's decision to award a penalty kick to JDT (in the dying minutes of the game)," he told reporters after the match at the Darul Aman Stadium here.

KDA FC, who were aiming to grab the top position in the league, lost 1-0 to JDT after the visitors were awarded a penalty kick in the second half injury time, which was successfully converted by Bergson Gustavo.

The defeat caused KDA FC to drop to third position in the league with 23 points, one point behind Terengganu FC who are in second position while JDT remain at the top of the table with 27 points.

Aidil Sharin urged his men to focus on the next match against Sabah at the Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, on May 8.

"We will intensify training and devise a strategy to change our position in the league, my hope is that the players bounce back and not get discouraged, we need to be ready to play against Sabah, then the AFC Cup," he said.

Meanwhile, JDT head coach Benjamin Mora said that the penalty kick at the end spared his team from having to share points with Kedah FC.

However, he said the JDT players had to work hard to win the match because Kedah FC were at the top of their game.

"This was an intense match because Kedah's game pattern is different and there has been a lot of improvement in terms of player performance, style and strategy, but one goal has given us three valuable points," he said.

--BERNAMA