# PKNS FC coach Elavarasan says Liberian has overcome jet-lag
# Selangor outfit ready to make up in the second-leg
When PKNS FC scored a late equaliser to hold Premier League champions Kedah to a 1-1 draw in the first-leg Malaysia Cup quarter-finals in Alor Setar it threw the Selangor club a lifeline that could see them in the semi-finals when the return-leg is played at the Selayang Stadium on Saturday.
PKNS coach E. Elavarasan was quick to admit that it was somewhat below par performance from his team but “good enough” to be on track and remain in contention for a place in the last four.
And Elavarasan is banking on his foreign legion – Argentine Gabriel Guerra, Liberian internatiomal Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh was “nowhere his best” in Alor Setar and Timor Leste ace Pedro Henrique.
Elavarasan also revealed that reason for the Liberian’s below par performance on a night when Henrique fired in the equaliser just minutes before the end of the match after Syazwan Zainon gave the Red Eagles the lead.
“Patrick was suffering from jet-lag after his return from Liberia after playing for his country in the recent World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast…but he is back in shape now and ready to go.
“You will see a different Patrick in the return-leg. We are also aware that Kedah will be ‘tight’ on all our foreign players. But we have our match plans to check Kedah.
“The pressure is on Kedah. We did not lose to them in Alor Setar and it is comforting. The team’s morale is high after we managed to score an away goal. Kedah were the more aggressive in the first-leg but we held out,” said Elavarasan.
The Red Eagles have not been able to beat PKNS in the three outings so far. In the league they drew 1-1 in Alor Setar and lost to PKNS 2-1 at away…which gives Elavarasan and his team the advantage.
Elavarasan, however, is aware that in a competition like the Malaysia Cup “nothing is impossible” and has drilled into his players to be “fully focused” on the match in Selayang.
The former international is also counting on the good form of Johor-born goalkeeper G. Jeevananthan who played a big role in the stalemate in the first-leg.
“Jeeva was in his element and made some crucial saves that kept us in the picture,” added Elavarasan.
