KUALA LUMPUR: Kuching City coach Aidil Sharin Sahak believes home advantage can help his side turn the tables on Gangwon when the two teams meet again in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) on Nov 5.
The Cats lost 1-0 to the South Korean side in Gangneung on Thursday, but Aidil was encouraged by his players’ response after conceding Choe Byeong Chan’s 28th-minute winner.
“My boys fought. You could see on the pitch that they never gave up after going 1-0 down,” said Aidil in the post-match press conference.
“After going 1-0 down, we came back with a good attitude. We didn’t sit back and only defend. We knew it was time for us to release the pressure and play our normal game,” he said.
Aidil acknowledged Gangwon’s technical quality, describing them as one of Asia’s best sides, but believes the experience will provide valuable lessons for his players.
The result leaves Kuching bottom of Group H with a single point from three matches, following an opening 2-1 defeat to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown Nd a 1-1 draw with Hong Kong’s Kitchee at the Taha Ariffin Stadium.
The Cats will get an immediate chance to respond when they host Gangwon at home, with Aidil expecting a different contest on home soil.
“Although we lost 1-0, we will play against them at our home ground. I think it will definitely be a different game,” he said.