- By K.RAJAN -

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan coach Bojan Hodak has slammed his players for throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against 10-man Pahang in their Super League match at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Saturday.

Defending champions Kelantan twice took the lead through Mohd Norfarhan Mohd (8th minute) and Keita Mandjou (84th) but the Elephants replied through Hafiz Kamal (47th) and Fauzi Roslan’s spot kick (85th).

Hafiz later went from hero to zero for Pahang when he was sent off in the 62nd minute for stamping on Kelantan substitute Zamri Ramli’s back.

The dismal draw leaves the Red Warriors in seventh spot in the 12-team standings with 10 points after eight matches.

Hodak, who led the Red Warriors to their M-League treble of Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup last season, questioned his players’ drive,

He claimed that “they are growing complacent after a successful season”.

“We should have returned with full points … we were leading against a 10-man team and yet we let the points slip away,” said the disappointed Croatian.

“We should have played wider to open up the channels after Pahang lost a player … instead they played a narrow game and failed to add more goals which they should have easily done.

“The players were overconfident as they thought that a one-goal lead was enough to win the match. I don’t know, maybe the players don’t have the hunger in them anymore after winning the treble.”

The 41-year-old Hodak said that he would sort out his side’s defence before they take on PKNS in the second round of the FA Cup tomorrow.

“We have improved our attacks and started to score … but our defence needs more work,” he said.

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