Amri Yahyah Wonder Goal Gives Malaysia's JDT Hope In AFC Cup Semi final
Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim's hopes of making the final of the AFC Cup are still alive despite a 3-1 defeat at the home of Al Qadsia at Kuwait Sports Club Stadium on Tuesday night.
With the Southern Tigers trailing 3-0 at the home of the tournament's defending champions, Malaysia international forward Amri Yahyah grabbed a lifeline with a vital away goal that came courtesy of a luscious, long-range lob.
It was a dominant performance from Al Qadsia and there were warning signs for the visitors before the deadlock was broken after 32 minutes.
A swinging corner from the impressive Bader Al Mutawa, who had a 2012 trial with Nottingham Forest, was headed home in simple fashion by Doris Fuakuputo. He had hit the bar from a similar set piece just minutes before.
Four minutes before the break, it got a lot worse for the big spending Malaysian outfit. There were few protests when Mohamad Aidil Zafuan stuck out a leg in the area to trip Al Mutawa to concede a penalty. There was even less surprise when the legendary Kuwaiti international, who recently announced his retirement from the national team, dispatched the spot kick with ease.
JDT were a little more aggressive after the restart bit were still struggling to create chances.
The tie looked dead and buried in the 55th minute when Seydouba Soumah made it 3-0 in emphatic fashion. The Guinean international collected the ball just outside the area and let fly with a fierce right-foot shot that slammed into the top right corner of the Johor net past the despairing dive off Izham Tarmizi. It was looking all too easy for the 16-time Kuwaiti champions.
Yet the best goal came from the Malaysians with eight minutes remaining. Leandro Velazquaz turned and passed just inside the Kuwaiti half and freed Yahya. The substitute spotted Ahmad Al Fahdli off his line and, hitting the ball first time, lobbed the goalkeeper from 30 yards.
"To be honest, things would have been good if the result was 2-1, but now it is very hard as the result is big," Johor coach Mario Gomez told reporters after the game.
"In the second leg, we have to score two goals but we will rely on our supporters to have a good result.
"If the match finished with a 3-0 win for Qadsia, then it would have been harder but the goal that we scored will give us a chance. We will try our best in the second leg."
The spectacular strike not only sparked wild celebrations among the small pocket of visiting fans, it gives Johor hope for the second leg back home on Oct. 19 in front of what should be a much bigger and more passionate crowd. This tie is not over yet.
-ESPN FC
