Third-placed Selangor received an unexpected blow for their away clash against leaders and defending champions Johor Darul Takzim at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru on Wednesday.
The Red Giants who moved to third place after the hard-fought 2-1 win over Kuala Lumpur over the weekend will be without their Brazilian attacking midfielder Sandro da silver Mendonca who is ruled out with a recurrent knee injury – throwing a spanner in coach B. Satianathan’s match strategies.
“We are only taking 20 players for the trip to JB. Without the first team and a couple of them on the crock list we have a mountain to climb against the champions,” said Satianathan.
First choice goalkeeper Farizal Harun is under a five-match suspension while internationals Syahmi Safari, Halim Saari, Syazwon Zainon are nursing injuries.
Syahmi hailed as a star of the future did not feature in Malaysia’s World Cup/Asia Cup qualifiers against Timor Leste and the A international friendly against Nepal because of a hamstring injury.
Satianathan also reminded that JDT, after the 1-1 draw against PKNP (Perak SEDC) in their last match (away in Manjung) would want to redeem their pride in front of their home fans at Larkin which is their kubu (fort).
“We will be hardpressed…but we will not throw in the towel without a fight. With the right focus and right attitude of the player on the field, anything can happen in a football match,” added Satianathan.
Selangor moved into the top three behind leaders JDT (40 points), Pahang (27) with 25 points after defeating Klang Valley rivals Kuala Lumpur 2-1 through an injury-time penalty converted by Mendonca in the 95th minute.
In the first round played at the Shah Alam Stadium on 1st March, the Southern Tigers defeated the Red Giants 4-2.
New signing, Nigerian striker Ifedayo Olusegun, with five goals in four matches, has given Selangor hope of a top-three finish in the 12-team league which has been won by JDT the last five years and with a 13 lead at the top, the sixth title is theirs for the taking.
The current unpredictable weather is also a cause for concern for Satianathan and company. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
