No let-up: Perak’s Luka Milunovic (centre) vying for the ball with a Sabah player during the Malaysia Cup quarter-final second-leg match. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Perak coach Yusri Che Lah knows his team have an uphill task against Johor Darul Ta’zim in the Malaysia Cup semi-finals. But that can wait.
For now, he just wants his players and fans to celebrate their brilliant victory over Sabah in the quarter-finals on Monday.
The hosts needed a positive response in their second leg in Ipoh after a 2-2 draw in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 15 and Perak did not disappoint their fans as Wan Zack Wan Haikal’s goal in the dying seconds of the first half took them to the semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate.
Yusri, who took over the Seladang in May after controversial coach Lim Teong Kim was sacked following a poor run in the early season, has already helped Perak recover, starting with the shock 4-3 aggregate win over Kedah in the last 16.
“My players deserve to celebrate this victory (over Sabah) although we have a strong team waiting in the semi-finals,” said Yusri, a former international.
“But let us celebrate first. My players gave 100% throughout the 90 minutes. Reaching the semi-final is my best achievement as a coach.”
Perak will take on JDT in the first-leg away on Oct 20 while the return leg will be held at Perak Stadium on Nov 3.
Yusri is well aware that JDT, who are on an unbeaten run in all tournaments, thrashed Perak by 5-0 scorelines in Ipoh on April 23 and in Iskandar Puteri on Aug 13 in the Super League.
However, he is not ready to concede without a fight.
“We were hit with 10 goals in the Super League but we have still have another 180 minutes to play,” said Yusri. “Although the gap is quite wide, we have to take whatever chances we get and keep trying. Anything is possible.”
Meanwhile, Sabah coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said the wet conditions at the stadium was one of the reasons for their defeat to Perak.
However, he is looking forward to his team bouncing back in the Super League when they face Kelantan in an away match in Kota Baru on Friday. PERAK 1 SABAH 0
(Perak win 3-2 on aggregate)
