Blunders cost South China dearly as they crash out of AFC Cup after losing 3-1 at home to 10-man Malaysians
Johor Darul Ta’zim play 54 minutes with a man down, but still win quarter-final tie 4-2 on aggregate
South China failed to make the most of home and numerical advantage, crashing out of the AFC Cup to 10-man Johor Darul Ta’zim, of Malaysia, at Mong Kok Stadium last night.
JDT scored a resounding 3-1 victory after playing for 54 minutes without their Argentinian striker Luciano Figueroa, who was sent off for elbowing Cheung Chi-yung. The Malaysians won 4-2 on aggregate after the first leg in Johor Bahru finished 1-1.
Two defensive blunders in the first half cost South China dearly.
It was a disappointing performance. We have prepared for the AFC Cup very hard for the last two months and played very well in the first leg in Johor, but everything changed tonight
South China coach Casemiro Mior said all the hard work over the past two months was destroyed by two mistakes.
"It was a disappointing performance. We have prepared for the AFC Cup very hard for the last two months and played very well in the first leg in Johor, but everything changed tonight," Mior said.
“In football, you cannot make too many mistakes and this is the key point. Tonight they [mistakes] killed us.”
The Brazilian apologised to the fans who came to support the team.
“Sorry for the South China fans and for all Hong Kong fans who came to support us. It’s very disappointing because we lost the game,” he said.
