Ipoh: Perak head coach Mehmet Durakovic is proud of the resilience shown by his team in the 2019 AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage Two win over Hong Kong’s Kitchee FC on Tuesday.



The penalty shootout win over Kitchee sealed AFC Champions League debutants Perak a play-off against Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai and it was a victory which brought the reigning Malaysia Cup champions mental strength to the fore.

Perak looked to have sealed a place in the play-offs after taking a 1-0 lead, only to concede in the 89th minute of the tie, which then required penalties.

Perak held their nerves, winning the shootout 6-5 to seal a play-off against Ulsan Hyundai, the 2012 AFC Champions League winners.



Durakovic is counting on the resilience shown against Kitchee to carry Perak through at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on Tuesday

"My player are not machines, I do not have a big squad and some players are injured, but I'm proud of them for creating history," said Durakovic.

It was Perak’s first appearance in the AFC Champions League while Kitchee had the experience of having featured in the group stage previously.

Ulsan Hyundai will offer a stiffer test and Australian Durakovic admitted Perak can’t be as wasteful as they were against Kitchee.

"We were unlucky with opportunities and although Kitchee played with 10 players our negligence was eventually punished with an equaliser in the last minutes of the game.

"But I applaud the players who did not give up easily and they continued to make their way to the end of the game and win the it through penalties," he added.

Perak’s hero was goalkeeper Muhammad Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy, who saved two penalties in the shootout.

“I was extremely nervous but I told myself that the team were depending on me. I am glad that I was able to deliver,” said Muhammad Hafizul, who also made two saves in the 2018 Malaysia Cup final win over Terengganu, which had also needed a shootout after the match ended 3-3.

Photos: Perak Football Association


Source: the-afc.com