Xisco Munoz praises Johor Darul Ta’zim's spirit before the Malaysia FA Cup semi-final with DPMM FC

Johor Darul Ta’zim head coach Xisco Munoz has no complaints about the fighting spirit his players showed in reaching the semi-finals of the Malaysia FA Cup, even with the AFC Champions League to focus on as well, MFL reported on 13 October. Their semi-final opponents, DPMM FC, got there with 10 men, and coach Jamie McAllister has described how.

Johor Darul Ta’zim beat Penang FC 11-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, according to the league body. Munoz said his staff try to build training programmes around each player’s needs, and that the players had drawn on the strength and intensity of that work. He called the fixture list very packed and demanding, but said he enjoys every match his side play.

How DPMM FC held on

DPMM FC won the second leg of their quarter-final 1-0 away to Kuala Lumpur City in Cheras on 11 October, J. Murray scoring in the 11th minute. The first leg in Bandar Seri Begawan on 20 September had finished 3-3, so they went through 4-3 on aggregate.

McAllister praised his players’ defensive discipline in the second half after Tommy Mawat was sent off, MFL says. For that half, he said, his side left the hosts’ two centre-backs free on the ball, expecting a stream of crosses into the box, and asked players to double up on the wings to stop them. He felt too many crosses still came in, but said the defending in front of goal was very good, and that his team created enough chances after the break to have scored two or even three more.

McAllister hopes some of his injured players recover in time for the first leg against Johor Darul Ta’zim, and wants the momentum from the win to carry his side towards a positive result before the return leg. In the other semi-final, Selangor FC host Kuching City FC first and then travel to Taha Ariffin Stadium for the second leg.

Before the semi-final, DPMM FC, fifth in the Malaysia Super League with 6 points from 4 matches, host Kuching City FC in the league at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on 18 October, kicking off at 8.15pm.

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