KUALA LUMPUR: The KL City players weren't interested in marking Nathaniel Shio as he was not known to be the scoring type. And prior to yesterday's FA Cup final, he hadn't even scored one goal in his whole life in the Super League for JDT.
But the man who admitted he "rarely takes shots from long range" rocked KL with a 30-metre missile at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in the 66th minute to give JDT a 1-0 lead in the FA Cup final. JDT won 2-0 after Leandro Velazquez scored in the 74th minute.
To cap an amazing night for Nathaniel, he was also named as Man of the Match of the FA Cup final.
The 23-year-old, who was a youth player with English club Wolverhampton Wanderers, said: "I didn't hesitate and I took a shot."
KL City custodian Kevin Ray Mendoza admitted that Nathaniel's long range strike took him by surprise.
The Philippines national team goalkeeper said Nathaniel's goal was extraordinary and he didn't think the JDT player could react so fast and with precision, fired the ball to the top left of the goalmouth.
"I didn't expect it because he's not one to take shots at goal especially long range. We were shocked. This rarely happens but it was a good goal," said Kevin,
Coach Azraai Khor, a double treble winner with Kedah, said: "Although Nathaniel is a defensive midfielder, he's more of a ball winner and his consistency was important with his touches that made it a rare sight to see him taking a shot at goal.
"He wasn't blocked, he took a shot and Kevin was in no position to make a save. He's a player who works for the team. I applaud his workrate and his support in attack."
Earlier this year, JDT coach Esteban Solari said Nathaniel is shaping up well to be a national asset. Well, he has certainly impressed national coach Kim Pan Gon who was at the stadium on Saturday.
Nathaniel, who is of English-Malaysian parentage, is a product of the JDT academy that has developed the likes of Arif Aiman Hanapi, Ramadhan Saifullah and Feroz Baharudin.