Dejan Antonic praises Arema's team performance after defeating Kitchee in AFC Cup

24 May 2012 02:55:00

The Serbian head tactician has successfully led Singo Edan to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup for the first time in the club's history

Indonesian Premier League outfit Arema FC successfully qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Hong Kong champions Kitchee at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Wednesday.

Putut Waringin Jati was the hero for the Malang-based club after he netted a pair of goals to seal a victory for his team which also ended the opponents' unbeaten home record during the tournament.

Singo Edan's coach Dejan Antonic was delighted to see his side reach the last eight of the AFC Cup to follow the path of Persipura Jayapura last year.

"I think both teams played good football, we were tactically excellent. I know Kitchee very well so I made the tactics to not give them too much space. It is not easy to play Kitchee who are a very good team," said Antonic.

"I am very happy as we have won and have made history as only one other team, Persipura, have made it to the last eight in Asia.

"The boys have worked hard for the last three months. Many players left before I arrived and we have worked hard for three months and you can see from the performances on the pitch."

Kitchee boss Josep Gombau congratulated Arema on their success, acknowledging their cutting edge in front of goal proved decisive.

"We lost, but this is football. We kept the ball better but did not score. We had the chances but our finishing was not good," Gombau said.

"Arema played well. In the first half Kitchee had more possession, but they scored. Arema are a good team, any team in the last 16, last eight or final four are difficult teams."