KL City, JDT face off in preview of FA Cup final

KUALA LUMPUR: As fans in Malaysia eagerly await the FA Cup final between Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and KL City, they will get a preview of it tomorrow.

JDT will focus on extending their lead at the top of the Super League standings when the defending champions host Kuala Lumpur at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.

Both teams will face off again in the FA Cup final at the same venue on July 22. Although JDT have yet to lose this year, KL coach Bojan Hodak is not under any pressure.

"If you make mistakes in a league match, you can still recover the points from other games. However, it is not the case in a Cup final," said Hodak today.

"There is no pressure for us because we know JDT never drop points at home. It is because they score plenty of goals and have the best players and facilities in the country.

"We are different. We neither have a stadium nor a training ground and are on a tight budget. However, we will do our best tomorrow."

KL, however, will be without five players for the game.Goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza and Declan Lambert are recovering from injuries, while Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Sebastian Avanzini and Ryan Lambert have been suspended.

"The spirit is great after reaching the FA Cup final. Everyone is happy and training well. However, we will be playing JDT without five first-choice players. Their replacements must prove their worth tomorrow to start in the FA Cup final."

Although winger Arif Aiman Hanapi is on fire for JDT, Hodak said the Southern Tigers have quality in all departments.

"We cannot just focus on Arif. They have other quality players who can decide games," Hodak added.

JDT lead the table with 42 points, while KL are sixth with 23. Meanwhile, Selangor will not unleash their new signing Richmond Boakye in tomorrow's match against Kuching City.

Selangor coach Tan Cheng Hoe said the Ghanaian striker will only make his debut against Sri Pahang on Sunday or Penang on July 15.

"We still need time to change our formation to accommodate Boakye. He has to adapt to our game first," said Cheng Hoe, adding that defenders Fazly Mazlan and Yazan Al-Arab will not play due to injuries.

Selangor are second in the standings with 31 points.

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