KUCHING – Kuching City FC displayed commendable resilience, but ultimately succumbed to a 1–0 defeat against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in a tightly contested Super League match at Sarawak Stadium on Sunday, August 24.
The contest shifted dramatically early in the second half when Yuki Tanigawa received a straight red card for a foul outside the penalty area, reducing the home side to 10 men just four minutes after the interval.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Kuching City defended diligently. Their goalkeeper, Haziq Nadzli, made several key saves to keep the match level against relentless pressure from JDT’s frontline.
JDT broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, with Jairo da Silva rising highest to head home a precise cross from Joao Figueiredo.
Following the final whistle, head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak praised his players’ effort under duress. “Playing JDT is tough even with 11 players; with 10, it becomes even more challenging. But I salute my team—they gave their all,” he said, acknowledging the squad’s character despite the loss.
Aidil also referred to the absence of key contributors—João Pedro da Silva Freitas, Muhammad Danial Amier Norhisham, Jordan Mintah, and Gabriel Nistelrooy—to illnesses and injuries, which affected the team’s rhythm. Their absence, however, created opportunities for players such as Ahmad Daniel Ahmad Asri and Ahmad Hazwan Bakri to make notable contributions.
Looking ahead, Aidil is optimistic: the coach anticipates all four sidelined players to recover in time for their upcoming away fixture against Negeri Sembilan on August 29 at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Paroi Stadium. “Their return will bolster the squad. Maintaining consistency—in form and results—will be key,” he added.
This encounter marks another chapter in Kuching City’s strong showing in the 2025 season, in which they secured a top-four finish. Aidil Sharin was recognized as Malaysia’s Coach of the Year for the 2024–25 season.
