Johor bahru: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Xisco Munoz admitted that his team only found their rhythm after scoring the opening goal in their 5-0 victory over UM-Damansara FC in the FA Cup first-round at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium last night. He said the early stages were difficult as the players struggled to control the tempo, but the breakthrough changed the momentum of the game.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the first goal was very important for JDT. Before that, the team couldn’t find the rhythm they wanted, but after scoring, the team played with more confidence and intensity. From there, they pressed harder and created more opportunities. It is never easy to score the first goal, but once they did, the game became more open and they had more chances, Munoz told reporters after the match.
When asked whether he was satisfied with the team’s overall performance after three competitive matches this season, the coach stressed that improvements were still necessary, particularly in home games. He noted that at home, they must perform better, as the players are still adapting, especially the new ones, to the intensity there. Step by step, they need to find the right balance. At the moment, they are creating many chances, including penalties, but in attack, they must use their capacity more effectively.
A1 League side UM Damansara FC took a heavy blow in the 38th minute when captain Hariz Mansor was sent off after receiving his second yellow card. The breakthrough came just before half-time, with JDT’s Argentine left back Jonathan Silva finding the net in the 44th minute and went on to add his second of the night with a header ten minutes into the second half, putting the Southern Tigers firmly in control.
Meanwhile, UM-Damansara FC Coach Ridzuan Abu Shah expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite the 5-0 loss to JDT. He mentioned that his team played brilliantly at the start of the match before facing a second yellow card incident which resulted in Hariz Mansor being shown the red card.