That hurts: Terengganu’s Mohd Nor Hakim Hassan colliding with Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan during the Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium on Friday. — All pix by CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Steinbruckner rues ref’s dubious decisions, wishes for VAR implementation
KUALA LUMPUR: As the gloom of a frustrating Malaysia Cup final loss to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) descended on the Terengganu football camp, coach Tomislav Steinbruckner could not help finding fault with the man in black.
The Croatian was so miffed with some of referee S. Logeswaran’s decisions in a match that saw three penalties awarded that he wished that the Video Assisted Referee (VAR) had already been implemented here.
“It would be good to have the VAR system here already. It would have made a big difference to the match result. And the referee wouldn’t have awarded so many penalties,’’ said Steinbruckner.
Ever-present danger: Terengganu’s Ivan Mamut taking a shot as JDT goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi prepares to make a save.
“There were also some rough challenges on my players which warranted bookings. Ivan (Mamut) even suffered an injury on the head. Some of the JDT defenders should have been shown yellow cards. But it is what it is, and I don’t want to talk too much.
“The defeat hurts but I’m proud of my players because the score was 1-1 up to the 70th minute. If Ivan had put away a good chance in the 60th minute, things could have been different.”
As Steinbruckner and his Turtles licked their wounds, JDT coach Esteban Solari was a picture of absolute joy as he embraced team owner and Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim after masterminding the Southern Tigers’ 3-1 win at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil to complete a second straight quadruple for the club.
Rising ahead: Terengganu’s Nurillo Tukhtasinov heading the ball away from JDT’s Bergson Da Silva and Heberty Fernandes.
Beaming with pride, the Argentine said: ‘’I’m truly grateful to Tunku Ismail for giving me the chance to coach this fantastic team. We want to get better and better, and give the best of ourselves,” he said.
“The players have the mentality of champions. The Malaysia Cup final was difficult at some point but when substitute Feroz (Baharudin) came on and scored, it was the turning point.
‘’We have some fine young players like him and Arif (Aiman).
Huge fanfare in the stands: JDT supporters holding a replica of the Malaysia Cup as they cheer their team on and (right) Terengganu fans made sure they were not outdone as they show their passionate support with the state’s flag.
“There is so much pressure managing a club that’s expected to win all the time.
‘‘But at the end of the season when you win everything, it’s just worth it.
“Our team are 41 players and 27 staff.
‘‘They are people working day in, day out to make the club great. This success is for all of them.”
