Aidil gestures from the sidelines during the Kuching City FC vs Melaka match. — Photo from Facebook/Kuching City FC
KUCHING (May 12): Kuching City FC head coach Aidil Shahrin Sahak is expecting another stern challenge when his side face Kuala Lumpur City FC in their final Malaysia Super League match.
After defeating Melaka FC 3-1 on Friday night at Stadium Hang Jebat, the Cats ammassed 50 points, one ahead of Selangor FC in the race for the runners-up spot behind Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Aidil said his players deserved credit for overcoming a Melaka side known for its organised defence and ability to trouble stronger opponents, having defeated Sabah FC and pushed JDT recently.
“It’s not easy. We knew that Melaka defensively are really strong,” he said after last Friday’s match.
Kuching City controlled much of the early tempo and were rewarded with a first-half breakthrough after applying pressure against Melaka’s deep defensive setup.
The match briefly swung in Melaka’s favour after the Cats lost concentration and conceded an equaliser shortly after taking the lead.
Aidil reacted by making four substitutions within a short span during the second half, a move that helped restore urgency and energy to their attacking play.
The visitors regained momentum before sealing the match with two more goals.
Aidil praised Jerome Etame after the striker netted his first hat-trick for the club, describing the forward as a key addition since arriving during the mid-season transfer window.
The coach acknowledged that pressure surrounding the race for second place had intensified in recent weeks, especially with Selangor continuing to keep pace directly behind them.
“We cannot lose points again because we knew that Selangor is already waiting,” he said.
Still, Aidil believes the squad has handled expectations well despite many players and team officials having little experience competing near the top end of the table.
He described the current campaign as a historic one for the club after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, qualifying for the Malaysia Cup final and remaining firmly in contention for a top-two league finish.
Aidil said the achievements were the result of collective effort from the players, coaching staff and club management.
Attention now shifts to Kuching City’s final home league fixture against KL City on May 15, a match expected to be critical in the battle for the runner-up spot.
The coach has called on supporters to pack the stadium and help inspire the team in what could become another milestone occasion for the club.
“We want to create history for Kuching City and give back to the fans who have been supporting us all along,” he said.
The post Kuching City FC expect stiff challenge in season’s last Malaysia Super League match appeared first on Borneo Post Online.