SABAH FC will be taking on Selangor FC in the first leg of the FA Cup semi-final at the Likas Stadium this Sunday (November 9).
Despite losing 1-2 to the same team in the league match last Saturday at the same venue, I believe there is still a chance for us to turn the table on them.
Head coach Jean Paul de Marigny, who is new to the Malaysian football scene, should have a better knowledge of the visitors’ strengths and weaknesses after last Saturday’s league game.
I trust that he will be able to work out the right tactic to take on Selangor FC and get the win before the second away leg to be played only at the end of the month.
I have no doubt that Selangor FC are still a good team but they are not unbeatable. They have already lost three times in the league and once in the second leg of the FA Cup quarterfinal match with Negeri Sembilan FC.
They don’t look like a formidable team like previous years but Sabah FC are also in the same boat, or perhaps worse after losing to them in the league.
However, there is still not a very big gap separating the two teams based on the last encounter. There is a strong possibility that we can overcome them in this first leg cup tie.
Home turf advantage, the home fans support and the desire of the players are the main factors that can drive the team to overcome our opponents.
We need to settle down fast and take the game to them right from the start. As usual, we need to try to get an early goal.
Full commitment and focus are the must to ensure that we don’t let our guard down easily as we did in the league match.
I hope the coach has worked on our defensive line and put their act together.
Selangor FC have shown that their players are capable of punishing our shaky defence if the opportunities arose as they did last Saturday.
At the same time, we also need to find ways to create scoring opportunities and make them count. Our strike force up front will need to sharpen up as the chances presented to them will not be on a golden plate.
Let’s go out there and play as a unit to avenge last week’s defeat and salvage some pride.
The FA Cup final is only two matches away and we are definitely behind the team to take a stronghold in the first leg.
