Saturday, February 08, 2014
PKNS v Sarawak 0-2
You're 2-0 down at home. You have two of last season's most prolific strikers up top. You have about 15 minutes left on the clock. What do you do? Send one of your central defenders forward!
Patrick Wleh maybe nicknamed Ronaldhino but there is a bit of Kanu about him...the languid pull backs, the tight ball control, the unpredictability. There was a buzz among the tiny band of home fans every time the Liberian international got the ball and he was often able to conjour something out of not much.
Certainly, he had the chances to score against Sarawak at Selayang Stadium and on another night he may well have done.
His striking partner, Karlo Primorac, was more anonymous, effectively marshalled by the visiting team.
I missed the first goal, I was enjoying roti at a food stall in Bukit Bintang and got stuck in traffic, but Sarawak, coached by former Arema coach Robert Alberts, played well in patches, counter attacking at pace and themselves had the chances to put the game to bed long before the end.
As PKNS chased the game, they pushed Indonesian defender Hamkah Hamza up top to add more presence. It's a tactic that has worked before, the guy had already netted three times this season in all competitions, but to no avail this time around.
Sarawak rode their luck at times but their rapier like attacks made them a constant threat while soaking up PKNS pressure and their own striker, Gabor Gyepes, had his own chances to put the game to bed.
One other player stood out. The PKNS number seven had pace and energy to burn. Nazmi Faiz maybe small of stature but he stood out amid some giants...little wonder he has already spend time overseas but as happens all too often, he returned home.
Pictures can be found on Asian Football Pictures and my Instagram account.
Patrick Wleh maybe nicknamed Ronaldhino but there is a bit of Kanu about him...the languid pull backs, the tight ball control, the unpredictability. There was a buzz among the tiny band of home fans every time the Liberian international got the ball and he was often able to conjour something out of not much.
Certainly, he had the chances to score against Sarawak at Selayang Stadium and on another night he may well have done.
His striking partner, Karlo Primorac, was more anonymous, effectively marshalled by the visiting team.
I missed the first goal, I was enjoying roti at a food stall in Bukit Bintang and got stuck in traffic, but Sarawak, coached by former Arema coach Robert Alberts, played well in patches, counter attacking at pace and themselves had the chances to put the game to bed long before the end.
As PKNS chased the game, they pushed Indonesian defender Hamkah Hamza up top to add more presence. It's a tactic that has worked before, the guy had already netted three times this season in all competitions, but to no avail this time around.
Sarawak rode their luck at times but their rapier like attacks made them a constant threat while soaking up PKNS pressure and their own striker, Gabor Gyepes, had his own chances to put the game to bed.
One other player stood out. The PKNS number seven had pace and energy to burn. Nazmi Faiz maybe small of stature but he stood out amid some giants...little wonder he has already spend time overseas but as happens all too often, he returned home.
Pictures can be found on Asian Football Pictures and my Instagram account.
# posted by Me @ 6:37 AM 
