Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Johor Baru: Johor Darul Ta’zim coach Mario Gomez heaped praise on attacking trio Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Luciano Figueroa and Safiq Rahim after the Malaysian champions secured a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup for the first time following a 5-0 win over Myanmar’s Ayeyawady United on Wednesday.
Argentinean Diaz scored twice and provided assists for captain Rahim as well as compatriot Figueroa, who also added another as Group F winners Johor eased to victory at Larkin Stadium.
Match report: Johor Darul Ta'zim 5-0 Ayeyawady United
“I told them we would always need to be patient when we are without the ball,” said Johor coach Gomez.
“When we don’t have possession, we put all the men behind the ball; when we have the ball, we go forward together.
“For me, Diaz is a very good professional, he is very fast. But Lucho (Figueroa) complements well with him as he knows the style of play needed to work as an attacking duo.
“Also equally important is Safiq as he sits behind the forwards and brings the team forward each time he has the ball on his feet.”
Johor will now await the result of next month’s quarter-final draw, which will be held on June 18.
“We feel good and want to continue in the AFC Cup as long as we can because it is a prestigious tournament,” added Gomez.
“The next phase of hard work begins when we resume our league programme on 20 June.”
Ayeyawady coach Marjan Sekulovski, meanwhile, was left to rue what might have been after seeing his fellow Round of 16 debutants suffer their only defeat of the campaign having finished as runners-up in Group G behind Indonesia’s Persib Bandung with an unbeaten record.
“We weren’t lucky tonight as we allowed two early goals, one in each half,” said Sekulovski.
“The main difference is the level Johor showed against us, and I have to congratulate my players for what they have done to reach this far despite the huge defeat.
“Diaz is one of the best I have ever seen and he was such a good player against us.”
Photo: WSG