Kuala Lumpur City headcoach shared the thinking process in the coaching department that saw Azri G., who has largely been deputising for Mendoza this season, preferred for the role in between the sticks during Wednesday night’s AFC Cup 2022 ASEAN Zonal Semi-final win against Viettel FC.
The City Boys won 6-5 on sudden-death penalties after both teams were deadlocked at 0-0 following 120 minutes of action at the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
“Azri (G.) started because we can list only four foreigners for the match. I felt we needed foreign players for outfield positions, so I picked him and I knew he would do well,” said Bojan to the New Straits Times and The Star.
The AFC regulation on foreign players mentions that clubs can play four foreigners in total in continental competitions with one of them having to be Asian. The City Boys registered 7 foreigners for the AFC Cup with Gallifuoco (Australia) & Mendoza (Philippines) in the Asian list, with Paulo Josue (Brazil), Romel (Colombia), Jordan (Ghana), Koubemba (France) and Kyrian (USA), making up the non-Asian slots. This differs from the Malaysian Super League which allows for five foreigners in total with one of them coming from an ASEAN nation, and another from an AFC member association, while the rest from anywhere in the world.
The Croatian added, “I had trust and faith in him. I knew Azri (G.) for two year during my time (as headcoach) with the Malaysian Under-19 team. He has the capabilities, quality and talent to make a difference. He saved penalties in shootouts before. It was a tough match but Azri stood tall on the night.”
The 23-year old went on to etch his name forever in the history books of the City Boys, when he saved Viettel’s seventh penalty, after Akram had given the Red & White’s a 6-5 lead through his spotkick. Azri G. correctly guessed Bui Duy Thuong’s attempt, and sent the City Boys to the final at home on August 24, 2022.
Twice ASEAN level champions in 1987 and 1989, when it was known as the ASEAN Champions’ Cup, back then a part of the AFC Asian Club Championship, the City Boys will once again meet fellow group mates PSM Makassar, of Indonesia in the ASEAN Zonal Final, for a ticket to the Inter Zone Semi-Final against India’s Mohun Bagan.
To read the match report of Viettel vs KL City on 10/8/2022 (AFC Cup), please click COMING SOON
To watch the highlights of Viettel vs KL City on 10/8/2022 (AFC Cup), please click https://youtu.be/Pic615Sh4rY
To watch the complete match of Viettel vs KL City on 10/8/2022 (AFC Cup), please click https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup.html