Southeast Asia Malaysia

Goulon and Sumareh Give Pahang First-Leg Lead

Aiman Nazirmuddin

Football Tribe Malaysia

 

Pahang took full advantage of playing on their own ground, pulling off a 3-1 over Perak in the FA Cup semi-final at Darul Makmur Stadium last night. The hosts opened the scoring in the 11th minute with defender Herold Goulon striking Nor Azam Azih’s cross to beat goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy.

However, things took a negative turn for the hosts in the 31st minute, as they were forced to take out Dickson Nwakaeme after the Nigerian striker was injured and replaced by Saddil Ramdani.

The absence of Nwakame did not prevent Pahang from adding the goal when Mohamadou Sumareh made it 2-0 after getting on the end of a pass from Norsahrul Idlan Talaha in the 39th minute. The side went into the break with a more comfortable two-goal lead.

After struggling to tear apart Pahang’s defense in the first half, Mehmet Durakovic’s men came out with a better game in the second half. The best chance visitors came through was from J Partiban, but the striker’s kick only managed to find the post, having already beaten Pahang goalkeeper Helmi Eliza Elias, in the 47th minute.

Six minutes later, Partiban redeemed his miss by scoring to reduce the deficit to just a single goal.

However, it would be the hosts who had the last laugh, as Goulon re-established his side’s two-goal lead with a phenomenal free-kick form his own half, which managed to catch out the goalkeeper and somehow find it’s way into the net. The goal has since garnered international recognition on social media.

Meanwhile, Felda United manager Mohd Nidzam Jamil admits his squad’s defensive game plan came up short in the 0-1 defeat to Kedah in the FA Cup semi-final at Darul Aman Stadium yesterday.

“I’m happy if we [had finished] this game with a 0-0 [draw],” Nidzam admitted, before adding that “the result (0-1) is not bad,” giving his side a chance to turn the game around in the second leg next weekend.

“We have to absorb all the attacks that Kedah has [launched] because if we do not, we [could’ve] been beaten [by] four goals here,” he added. The 39-year-old coach also admitted he was uncertain whether the penalty decision against his team in the match should not have occurred, but he respects the decision made by the referee.

Nidzam, however, determined to bring his team to the final stage. “I still see Kedah is a candidate in the FA Cup final this season but I am happy that we are the ones who have made it this far,” he said.