Looking for a repeat: Kuching City striker Jordan Mintah (centre) celebrating after scoring against Selangor on June 29. Mintah hopes to find the net again in the return leg. — Kuching City FC
PETALING JAYA: Jordan Mintah seems to have a knack for scoring goals against Selangor.
Since arriving in Malaysia in 2020, the 28-year-old striker has scored four goals against the Red Giants in all domestic competitions, with the recent one in the FA Cup.
The Ghanaian striker scored the winner in the first leg quarter-finals when Kuching City beat Selangor 2-1 at the State Stadium in Kuching on June 29.
“I was at the right place at the right time. Hopefully, in the next game, I can make it five goals against them,” said the former Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur player.
Mintah scored the winning goal in the 64th minute, while the other Kuching goal was scored by centreback James Okwuosa in the 45th minute. Selangor’s solitary goal was scored by Chilean forward Ronnie Fernandez in the 31st minute.
“I am proud of my teammates. We just followed our coach Aidil’s (Sharin) tactical game and it was beautiful to get the first win at home,” he said.
“Whatever opportunity that comes our way, we just have to take them. As a striker, I just want to score.
“Our local boys are getting better in every game. They are showing lots of confidence. We know they have a fighting spirit but now they are producing the goods on the field.”
The return leg will not be an easy one though as the Il Gatto (The Cats) will have to face the ‘sea of red and yellow’ at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Saturday.
Selangor have remained unbeaten at their home den this year, with every match attracting a sellout crowd buoyed by solidarity after their striker Faisal Halim became a victim of an acid attack on May 5.
Mintah however is not perturbed.
“We do have a better chance. We just need to be more determined and organised. If we can do this, I believe we can qualify for the semi-finals,” said Mintah.
If Kuching manage to get a winning aggregate, it would be their first time semi-final appearance in the FA Cup. And with a coach who has the experience of lifting the trophy in the FA Cup in 2019 with Kedah, Mintah and Co have an ideal role model to lead them all the way to the final.
