Pride back as Perak edge Kitchee - AFC News

AFC NEWS

Perak bounced back from their 6-1 defeat by SAFFC with a 2-1 win over Kitchee.

IPOH - Mario Berios' last minute strike helped Malaysian Super League outfit Perak move within three points of AFC Cup Group E pacesetters Singapore Armed Forces after edging out Hong Kong's Kitchee 2-1 on Wednesday.

Perak coach Steve Darby was eager for his side to restore some pride after they had suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of SAF in their last outing.

And they made the ideal start when they opened the scoring after just 11 minutes as Mohamad Hardi Jaafar fired home from the edge of the area.

But Kitchee's Macedonian midfielder Goran Stankovski looked to have earned a point for the visitors after netting a deserved equaliser with 17 minutes remaining, but Berios snatched all three for Perak against the run of play.

Perak were without strikers Khalid Jamlus and Carlos Caceres through injury, but still managed to take the lead as Jaafar fired home from the edge of the area past goalkeeper Li Jian after the Kitchee defence failed to clear.

Malaysian international Jaafar was denied by Li seven minutes later, while at the other end Hugues Nanmi saw his long range set piece saved by Perak goalkeeper Hamsani Ahmad.

The goal seemed to inspire Kitchee into life and Stankovski planted a close range header just wide nine minutes before the break.

Hamsani almost handed Kitchee an equaliser a minute after the break as he dropped Leung Chi Win's corner, but Liu Quankun was unable to react with the goal at his mercy.

Kitchee continued to dominate as Hamsani denied visiting captain Chan Siu Ki, while at the other end after a rare counterattack from the home side, Mohd Nor Ismail fired over.

The equaliser finally arrived with 17 minutes remaining as Stankovski pounced on a loose ball and roll it into the empty net with Hamsani on the ground after a collision and his defence unable to clear.

Kitchee continued to press for a winner, but as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Berrios beat Li with a powerful drive.