PETALING JAYA: A 3-3 draw with Pahang at the Temerloh Stadium put paid to Perak’s Malaysia Cup semi-final hopes.
It also marked the end of the road for two of their foreign players, with talks of contract extension not happening.
Filipino international centreback Jesper Nyholm (pic) and Serbian playmaker Luka Milunovic revealed that they played their last game for the Seladang on Sunday.
The club were knocked out of the competition 3-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, and could not emulate last season’s success when they got to the semi-finals.
Nyholm and Milunovic’s contract will end on Dec 30 but there are no matches for Perak until they take on Penang in the Super League at the City Stadium in George Town on Jan 12.
“This is my last game with the club. Last year, we got to the semi-finals, but this year, we only reached the quarter-finals. But it has been a great one-and-a-half-year journey for me in Perak,” said Nyholm on social media.
“We just keep going. I love all the players and let’s see what happens in the future.”
The 31-year-old Nyholm has been a regular player in the backline, featuring alongside A. Shivan Pillay in the centre of defence.
Milunovic, 32, who is known for his long locks, has been used on a rotational basis, with the task of adding tenacity upfront.
“In my last game, the team did not qualify but I am happy to have been part of the team. I did my best and wish Perak all the best.”
Perak coach Yusri Che Lah was coy when asked about their status.
“No comments. I do not know,” he said.
Perak already lost South Korean winger Lee Tae-min midway through the season.
Despite the exit, Yusri said he was delighted with the mental strength shown by his boys.
“It was a draw but we are went all out. We should not be ashamed of our performance.
On the two penalties that Perak conceded, he said there were lots of emotions going on.
“We should have been calmer during those situations. We just have to move forward.”
