The City Boys’ defence was severely tested in the 2-0 victory last Saturday over Sabah at home, especially when The Rhinos upped the ante at the start of the second chapter of the match, bombarding our penalty box, looking for the equaliser.
Largely the Red & White backline successfully kept Sabah’s strike force at bay, earning our second clean sheet of the season after shutting out Melaka Utd the previous homer, but when it was breached, there was always the safe pair of hands, legs or feet, of Mendoza who was yet again voted as our Hero of The Match, the second time this year (first time was during the match vs Kedah DA) for his brilliant display in ensuring that we went home with maximum points.
The Voice of The City Boys spoke to the Philippines’ National goalkeeper in the aftermath of that huge result against Sabah.
“Thank you for the HOTM (Hero of The Match) title 🙏🏽 . I am very grateful! But I think we all played a solid performance. Mainly, I think we fought hard and our subs(titutions) came in and did a really good job too! 💪🏽, he said.
The Filipino-Dane described the importance of not conceding to Melaka Utd the previous week as extremely pivotal in City Boys’ new found belief, after letting in 3 goals per match twice vs Johor DT, Selangor and Kedah DA raising some concern back then.
“Our second clean sheet 👏🏽. I think the clean sheet against Melaka (Utd) gave the team and me the confidence and boost we needed for the game against Sabah. We had a really good organisation and we fought hard both defensively and offensively.”
The 1.88 metre goalie with dashing good looks surged in popularity amongst Malaysian football fans after his superb show in stopping the Johoreans in last November’s Malaysia Cup final, but in reality he had been the bedrock for the city slickers achievements throughout that forever in time 2021, conceding only 20 goals in 22 league matches, then 6 in 9 Malaysia Cup fixtures. It’s been a tough start in 2022, but Kuala Lumpur City seem to be back on track in the past two matches.
He had this to say to aspiring goalkeepers who would like to know the Mendoza way,
“It’s all about trying to read the game and foresee what may happen next. When I watch a football game, I focus a lot on the keeper, because it is the natural thing for me to do. I want to observe and learn from what great keepers are doing.”
To read the match report of KL City vs Sabah on 16/4/2022 (Super League), please click, https://kualalumpurfootball.com/2022/04/18/rhinos-gunned-down-in-cheras-hunter-romel-delivers-the-kill/
To watch the highlights of this match, please click https://youtu.be/7x2gPODnMmg
To watch the complete match, please click https://youtu.be/glcYsfHJnN4