Football
Nicolas Anil 7y

JDT coach Benjamin Mora blasted by Melaka United for lack of humility

Melaka United coach Eric Williams blasted Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) after exchanging angry words at full-time with his counterpart Benjamin Mora following the 1-1 draw in the Malaysia Super League.

On the back of Safiq Rahim's 58th-minute free kick, JDT were cruising towards a regulation victory on Saturday night until Melaka's South Korean midfielder Jeon Woo-young equalised in the 88th minute.

The shock result came less than a month after the Johor giants thrashed the MSL strugglers 7-0 at Larkin Stadium.

Williams was livid that JDT couldn't accept the result, despite them moving six points clear at the top of the MSL.

"There comes a time where you need to show humility, and accept the fact that you can't win every game. I'm disappointed with their reaction," Williams said.

"[Benjamin Mora] has to understand he has a good team, the best in Malaysia. I remarked to him after the game. 'When you beat us 7-0, you didn't have the time to shake my hand. Now I've come to shake yours, and you grip it like you want to fight me?'

"And he said 'Next time, we'll beat you 7-0 again'. I told him, 'You think you're a good coach, mate?' The next time you come and coach my team, let's see how good you are.' Those were my parting words to a coach who has to take humility."

The game had several heated moments involving Safiq, Gabriel Guerra and Melaka forward Sergio Aguero. Aguero, who is not related to the Manchester City striker, is an Argentine import, like Guerra.

But Williams also chose to look at the positive result which means a three-match unbeaten run and lifted them to ninth on the table.

"The boys showed plenty of character, they stuck to the job. In the end, our game plan worked," Williams said. "It is difficult to compete with the big teams, you must ensure your character organisation is good. I'm very happy with my players."

JDT boss Mora did not address his terse exchange with the English-born Australian, but was more focused on how to get his team not to concede late goals.

"We need to learn how to close games when we are winning," Mora said. "It happened to us in the FA Cup against Pahang, and now again. This is an issue we need to work on and fix. Melaka are not easy to play at home and they gained a point because of our mistake in concentration.

"But we are doing okay in the league, six points clear at the top. We will not sit back on this and continue to play good football to try and win matches."

JDT increased their lead at the top after Kelantan condemned Pahang to a 3-2 defeat in Kuantan, thanks to Mohammad Ghaddar's brace.

The Lebanese striker continues to lead the scoring charts with 16 goals, six more than Pahang's Matheus Alves.

The Brazilian forward had kept Pahang in the game against Kelantan with a double of his own.

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