Liridon Krasniqi, Kedah, Irfan Zakaria, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Super League, 10032018Kedah FA

Player Ratings: Kuala Lumpur 4 Kedah 3


BY        ZULHILMI ZAINAL       Follow on Twitter


Kuala Lumpur vs Kedah match highlights

KUALA LUMPUR (KL)

Kamarul Effandi Abdul Rahim - 6

Returned to the starting line-up after he was rested for their FA Cup encounter last weekend. The custodian, who had made a number of blunders this season, cut down on mistakes against the Red Eagles, although he could not do much to avoid conceding three goals to a good Kedah team. 

Bobur Akbarov - 7

The Uzbek centre back made a number of timely last-ditch tackles in the first half to keep the hosts in the game.

Hisyamudin Sha'ari - 6

The centre back paired up relatively well with Akbarov, although at times the defence looked a little casual in preventing Kedah from entering the final third area, especially in the final 10 minutes of the game, which then led to the visitors' third goal.

Achmad Jufriyanto - 6

The Indonesian made few mistakes in defence, but did not shine either.

Syazwan Andik - 7

The Hawks wing backs looked a little casual in preventing Kedah from entering the final third area, especially in the final 10 minutes of the game, which then led to the visitors' third goal. Syazwan provided the assist to his team's third goal in the match.

Firdaus Faudzi - 6

The Hawks wing backs looked a little casual in preventing Kedah from entering the final third area, especially in the final 10 minutes of the game, which then led to the visitors' third goal.

Indra Putra Mahayuddin - 6

The veteran attacker was played on the right wing in the match by head coach Fabio Maciel, but had to tuck into the central midfield area a number of times, in order to help contain the threat of Kedah's midfield maestro Liridon Krasniqi.

Irfan Zakaria - 6

The central midfielder was simply overrun by Liridon and Akram Mahinan, and if not for the support of Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak and Indra, the Hawks could have ended the night in defeat instead.

Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak - 8 (Man of the Match)

Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, Kuala Lumpur, 10032018

Zaquan. Photo by Zulhilmi Zainal

Handed his first league start this season following his injury, the Malaysia international repaid Fabio's trust in spades. Barely five minutes into the match, he nicked the ball from centre back Khairul Helmi Johari just outside the Kedah penalty box before slotting it past goalkeeper Ifwat Akmal Che Kassim. But the visitors soon found their equaliser and changed the momentum of the game, and the winger helped the midfield contain Liridon. When Kedah then took the lead, many thought that it was game over for KL, but Zaquan helped them restore parity by forcing Helmi to commit a foul in his own box and concede a penalty in the second half, which was then put away by Guilherme de Paula.

Paulo Josué - 7

The Brazilian worked hard as always providing support to compatriot and striker Guilherme, and also found the back of the net, his second in the league this season.

Guilherme de Paula - 7

The star striker scored one goal from the spot, but his contribution was more significant than that. He was involved in the creation of KL's second goal, and it was his strike that led to the rebound that was then finished by Ashri Chuchu for the last-gasp winner. But it must be noted that he could have contributed more, had he tried harder instead of letting his frustration get to him when things did not go his way in the match. KL could have had an easier night, had Guilherme stayed more level-headed.

Substitutions:

Ashri Chuchu - 6

Had a fantastic night overall, although he was only on the pitch for a total of eight minutes. Coming on to replace Zaquan in the 88th minute, Ashri failed to mark Akhyar Rashid properly in the run up to Kedah's third goal in the first minute of injury time. However, he made no mistake a few minutes later, staying alert to Guilherme's attempt from the edge of the Kedah box, and making sure he was the first to pounce on the rebound when Ifwat palmed the Brazilian's attempt a short distance away, to give KL the dramatic winner.

Zhafri Yahya - NA

Late change.


KEDAH

Ifwat Akmal Che Kassim - 5

On a night that his defenders were subpar, the Malaysia U23 goalkeeper could do little to stop the hosts from scoring four past him, although fans surely would have liked to see a national goalkeeper produced more.

Rizal Ghazali - 5

Admittedly, KL's wingers are not the best in the league, so it is a mystery why Kedah's wing backs; arguably among the best in the league, weren't able to stop them on the flanks. Two of the hosts' goal came when Rizal was nowehere near the threat. Assisted his team's second goal.

Álvaro Silva - 5

The Spanish-born centre back again disappointed, failing to do much to stop KL from scoring four past them, considering that these goals were scored from inside the penalty area. More embarrassingly, he allowed himself to be dispossessed by Zaquan in the run-up to the Hawks' penalty.

Khairul Helmi Johari - 4

The Malaysia centre back donned the captain's armband once again due to Baddrol Bakhtiar's absence. Instead he put in a shift that was a textbook example of bad leadership and even worse defending. On top of his and Álvaro's failure to stop KL's attackers, he made two errors in the match that led to the hosts' goals. Just three minutes into the match he allowed Zaquan to dispossess him before scoring, while in the second half he committed a foul on his national team mate to concede a penalty.

Ariff Farhan Isa - 6

Performed adequately to ensure that their opponents could not attack from Kedah's left flank.

Liridon Krasniqi - 7

The midfield maestro did little that was wrong to dominate the middle of the park, so it was a shame that his teammates in the other areas performed nowhere as good as he did. The Kosovar got on the scoresheet once and provided an assist.

Akram Mahinan - 6

Provided sufficient support to the formidable Liridon, but perhaps he should have done more to help defend the flanks.

Andik Vermansah - 6

The Indonesian winger performed well enough in attack, but could not put away the couple of chances he had.

Farhan Roslan - 5

The youngster had a quiet game and contributed little.

Sandro da Silva - 6

Provided adequate support behind striker Pablo Pallarès.

Pablo Pallarès - 7

The Spanish striker finally rediscovered his scoring touch with a brace following three appearances without scoring a goal, but was ultimately let down by the outcome of the match.

Substitutions:

Amirul Hisyam Awang Kechik - 6

Coming on for Akram at the hour mark, he played just as well.

Akhyar Rashid - 7

The young star replaced Farhan with 20 minutes remaining, and provided the pace and purpose that had been sorely lacking from the Red Eagles' game until then. He troubled the hosts' left wing, and made an audacious attempt from a tight angle that struck the underside of the crossbar, which was then finished off by Pablo in injury time for what many thought at the time was the final goal of the game.

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