Sports

Wednesday October 7, 2009

Kelantan check in for q-final berth

By ERIC SAMUEL

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan are the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup competition.

The Red Warriors defeated Penang 2-1 at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru last night to take an unassailable lead in Group E with maximum points from four matches.

Former national player Khalid Jamlus scored the first goal for Kelantan in the 43rd minute and current international Indra Putra Mahayuddin netted the winner in the 80th minute. Penang got their goal through S. Chanthuru in the 65th minute.

Kelantan’s remaining two matches in the group are against defending champions Kedah and Armed Forces.

Favourites Selangor, seeking an unprecedented quadruple of titles in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) this season, are just a point away from clinching a ticket to the knockout stage when they came back from a goal down to snatch a 4-1 victory over Sabah in a Group D match at the Shah Alam Stadium.

The Red Giants also have maximum points from four matches. Kuala Muda Naza stayed in contention for a place in the quarter-finals, moving into second place in the group with a 3-0 win over Police at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar.

The Selangor players showed signs of fatigue after having to travel back from Singapore from their annual Sultan of Selangor’s Cup match against the Lions on Sunday.

But they still managed to troop out with a convincing victory with goals by Mohd Amri Yahaya (42nd, 89th), Mohd Safee Sali (56th) and Mohd Hardi Jaafar (71st).

Selangor had found themselves trailing against Sabah after striker Zainizam beat the offside trap to score in the 32nd minute.

In Group A, KL Plus remained as the leaders after a 3-1 win over Pahang.

Perlis are in second spot on nine points after thrashing Malacca 5-0 at the Utama Stadium in Kangar.

It is also a two-horse race in Group B with Negri Sembilan heading the table with the maximum 12 points after a narrow 1-0 win over Johor in Paroi. Terengganu kept up the pace, moving to nine points with a 7-0 rout of Sarawak at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.

The winners of the five groups of the preliminary rounds and three best second-placed teams qualify for the quarter-finals.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll