Shopee Cup: Late Peres header rescues point for Kuching

KUCHING: Kuching City FC snatched a 2-2 draw from the jaws of defeat after Gabriel Peres’ late header rescued a point against Tampines Rovers in their ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup Group A clash at Stadium Taha Ariffin on Wednesday night (Oct 7).

The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute after a defensive mistake by Kuching, with Naberu Yoshitaka pouncing on a loose ball after Peres attempted to clear Kenshin Yamazaki’s cross with a header.

The Cats pushed forward in search of an equaliser but struggled to turn their chances into goals, while Tampines remained dangerous on the counter.

Kuching finally found the breakthrough in the 87th minute when Peres fired a low effort past the Tampines goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

But the hosts’ relief lasted barely a minute.

A misplaced pass from Haziq Nadzli handed Tampines another opening, with Koya Kazama combining with Hide before finishing the move to restore the visitors’ lead.

With defeat staring Kuching in the face, The Cats kept pushing.

Joao Pedro delivered a cross from the left deep into stoppage time and Peres rose to meet it, heading home his second of the night to make it 2-2.

The late equaliser lifted the 5,536 supporters inside Stadium Taha Ariffin and earned Kuching a point from a match in which they had twice been forced to come from behind.