No easy way through: Perak’s Mohd Azfar Fikri Azhar marking a Pahang player during their Malaysia Cup quarter-final first leg match on Dec 13. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: There will be no room for error for Pahang when they clash with Sabah in the Malaysia Cup semi-finals next month.
Pahang coach Fandi Ahmad wants his team to learn from the mistakes made during their 3-3 draw against Perak in the second leg of their quarter-final match on Sunday at the Darul Makmur Stadium.
It was enough to see them through to the semi-finals after going into the match with a 1-0 lead from the first leg but Fandi expects more discipline from his players.
“Pahang have not played in the final for a long time and this time, we need to be highly disciplined to ensure success this season,” he said.
“But I am grateful that our charge to the semi-finals became a reality despite drawing with Perak, especially after the players made mistakes that gave Perak their second and third goals.’’
Fandi said the errors were not all goalkeeper Azfar Arif Mohd Sukri’s fault as a lack of communication between him and the defenders was the cause of the goals conceded.
But the star for Pahang during the second leg match was Manuel Hidalgo as the Argentinian player completed his hattrick for his team.
“The three goals from Hidalgo were a great gift because he is about to get married and become a husband.
“The same goes for all the players who worked hard to ensure the team made it to the semi-finals,” he said.
Hidalgo scored his first goal in just five minutes, then added two more in the 30th and 45th minute from the penalty spot.
Pahang will take on Sabah in the semi-finals next month, playing the first leg fixture on Jan 18 followed by the second leg on Feb 2.
Before that, they will play Negri Sembilan in the Super League on Jan 10.
