Kuching City boss hails players' hunger after huge FA Cup win

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuching City boss Aidil Sharin Sahak hailed his side’s “hunger” after they thrashed Brunei’s DPMM 7-1 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

Kuching overturned a 3-2 last 16, first-leg deficit to advance 9-4 on aggregate at the State Stadium in Kuching — their biggest win since joining the professional league in 2020.

Aidil praised his players’ hunger and the home support.

“We played with hunger from the first whistle and the boys followed the plan perfectly,” he said.

“The fans also pushed us all the way.”

Kuching were relentless from the start, with Ronald Ngah and Danial Asri setting the tone before an own goal by Yura Indera Putera Yunos effectively ended the contest by half-time.

Ronald and Danial struck again after the break, Ramadhan Saifullah chipped in, and Joao Pedro came off the bench to seal the rout.

DPMM’s only reply came from Ramadhan Sananta.

The visitors were reduced to 10 players when Jordan Rodrigues was sent off in the 20th minute.

Coach Jamie McAllister admitted the defeat was hard to take.

“It was unacceptable,” he said.

“We made too many individual errors and gifted them goals.

“Playing 70 minutes with 10 men was hard, but the manner of the goals we conceded was due to basic mistakes. We need to go back to basics.”

Meanwhile, Kelantan TRW (KTRW) stunned former champions KL City to join Kuching in the last eight.

E. Elavarasan’s side lost 1-0 in the second leg but advanced 3-2 on aggregate at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras.

“I’m proud of the boys. We’ve waited a long time to reach this stage, and it shows what belief and hard work can achieve,” said Elavarasan.

“Today our goalkeeper (Damyanov Damyan) was outstanding, and the players showed real commitment.”

KL City struck in the 71st minute through Victor Ruiz but fell short of the two goals they needed to overturn the deficit.

Coach Risto Vidakovic refused to criticise his players.

“I think we played a very tactically serious game and created many chances,” he said.

“But we lost the first leg. The players gave everything, and I’m proud of them, but we have to be more clinical.”

Kuching City will face Terengganu in the quarter-finals, while KTRW take on either Sabah or Bunga Raya.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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