KUALA LUMPUR: Kedah head coach Nafuzi Zain was candid about the challenges his team faced both on and off his pitch in the lead up to their 3-2 Malaysia Cup (first leg) round-of-16 win over KL City yesterday (Nov 22).
Kedah headed into the match at the Darul Aman Stadium with a depleted squad as a number of players chose to sit out the game in protest due to unpaid wages owed to them.
"We had only 11 players (who started) and one substitute. If we had eight or nine players we would have still played, that was the plan," said Nafuzi yesterday.
"I am touched by the players' efforts and determination considering the circumstances. To come back and win it 3-2 showed how determined they were."
KL City FC head coach Miroslav Kuljanac was clearly disappointed with his team's performance.
"I know they can play better. I will speak with them, we need to improve," said Miroslav.
The match saw Kedah's Sony Norde scoring a brace (27th and 30th minutes) and Sukhrob Nurulloev (68th) scoring the winner. KL City's goals were scored by Ryan Lambert (13th) and Jovan Motika (72nd).
Meanwhile, at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras, Kelantan Darul Naim lost 3-0 to Perak. The Bos Gaurus scored through Clayton Da Silva (22nd), Azfar Fikri Azhar (80th) and a penalty conversion by Daniel Hakimi Azmil (90+1).