Crocs downed 1-2 as Ashri shines
KUCHING: The Crocs have to work extra hard if they want to beat Kelantan in the opening match of Malaysia Cup at home ground in Stadium Negeri on September 6.
Sarawak went down 1-2 to Malaysia Cup last year’s finalist, Negeri Sembilan in Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paroi on Saturday.
The good news however was Sarawak’s youngest player Ashri Chu Chu showing great confidence in the game.
He scored Sarawak solitary goal by chipping the ball some 20 meters from outside the penalty box to beat the Negeri Sembilan custodian.
“I tried it many times during training,” the 20-year-old who hailed from Kampung Luagan Sundar, Lawas told The Borneo Post.
Ashri who played 90 minutes in the match said they lead 1-0 in the first half of the game but lost 2-0 in the second half. One of the opponent goals was an own goal by Sarawak defender Mohd Hairol Moktar.
“First half they were fielding the reserve team, second half they send in the comfirst eleven,” he said.
Negeri Sembilan are no pushovers, being Malaysia Cup winner in 2009 and finalist last year, losing 1-2 to Kelantan.
Ashri was quick to say that the result would be different if he and his team mates convert their golden chances.
“I missed one sitter while Bobby Gonzales missed two one on one situation, while another president cupper named Faiz missed one,” he said.
Ashri who scored eight goals in Premier League aims to score at least two goals in Malaysia Cup.
“Two goals are my target whatever extra are bonus,” the left flank explained.
Ashri who is only 165cm tall and weighing 64kg admitted that he had difficulty to compete against tall defenders over aerial balls.
“I am very confident, and we are not afraid of Kelantan,” he said.
He also revealed that the Coach Robert Alberts have been training them on how to break apart Kelantan solid defence.
“We practised the formation during training and we are confident (to spring some surprise),” he said, echoing his coach confidence.
It is understood the coaches, Robert Alberts, and his two assistants Farhan Abdullah and Mohd Azley Abdullah are planning to write a new script for this season’s Malaysia Cup which kicks off next month.
The coaches are not giving away any specifics but pundits have detected hints that an upset by the Crocs at the expense of Kelantan is something they are planning to pull out of the hat.
“The plan will be implemented within a month,” Alberts said after a discussion with his assistants at the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) management office here recently.
“It’s still too early to give details, we have two new players and need to integrate them into the team first. We are going for long-term training,” he added.
The Crocs new signings are Chung Keng Hong and Jaganathan Arputharajoo from ATM.
Meanwhile, Bobby Gonzales admitted that luck was not on his side in the game against Negeri Sembilan.
“We followed the coach plan, defensive and counter attack. The game was very fast. They were many chances but luck was not on my side. I have two chances and both occasion saved by the goalkeeper,” he said.
If they were able to convert the many chances, Bobby said the result would be totally different.
Sarawak lost 0-1 to Sime Darby and beat Police 2-0 in earlier friendly games.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/22/crocs-downed-1-2-as-ashri-shines/#ixzz1ooVu0Uiy Posted on August 22, 2011, Monday
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