DEFENCE LAPSE COSTS KUFC FULL POINTS

KOTA BHARU, July 17 (Bernama) -- A lack of experienced defenders is the reason why Kelantan United (KUFC) had to be satisfied with just one point when hosting PDRM FC in a Premier League match at Sultan Muhammad V Stadium here, last night.

KUFC head coach Syamsul Saad said his coaching staff had reminded the squad since the last matches when the defence conceded goals in the final minutes of the match.

“Today (last night) we repeated the same mistake as in the games against Perak FC and UiTM FC when the defenders lapsed in their focus at the last minutes of the match even though the goals could have been avoided.

"We only have Mohd Faisal Mohd Rosli who is experienced, other players such as Muhammad Aliff Najmi Shaaini, Evan Wensley and Shuhei Fukai lack the experience to defend under pressure from the opponents," he said at a press conference here last night.

In last night's match, PDRM FC's equaliser through substitute Mohamad Nabil Ahmad Latpi in the 86th minute crushed KUFC's hopes of ending a victory drought after a 1-1 draw in the Premier League match.

After 11 Premier League matches, KUFC are in fifth place with 16 points from four wins, four draws and three defeats.

Syamsul admitted that sharing points at home was hampering their efforts to improve their position in the league table.

“The majority of defenders are afraid to hold on to the ball which gave the opponents the chance to pounce for an attempt at goal.

"We planned tonight's match (last night) to win because we have done three weeks of preparations but the absence of experienced defenders once again prevented us from collecting three full points," he said.

Meanwhile, PDRM FC head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail said his team should be able to take home three points when they had six good chances to score.

"We were let down by the clumsiness of the forwards ... we should have been able to win but the strikers failed to do so," he said.

-- BERNAMA