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Tuesday November 3, 2009

Rezal: All about winning Cup, not the hot streak

PETALING JAYA: Ten straight wins will not mean a thing if Negri Sembilan fail to lift the Malaysia Cup.

Skipper Rezal Zambery Yahaya (pic) said that their mission against Kelantan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday was to keep intact the hot streak that began on Sept 26.

“We have come to the most crucial stage of the competition and we need to finish it off with a bang,” said the 31-year-old yesterday.

Negri have a 100% win record in their Cup campaign thus far, advancing into the knockout stage with maximum point from six matches. In the quarter-finals, Wan Jamak Wan Hassan’s boys thrashed Kuala Muda Naza 5-0 on aggregate and went on to beat Terengganu 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the final.

The Deer also have the best record in defence and attack in the competition. They have conceded only two goals and scored 24 in 10 matches.

Rezal hopes the team would not lose their focus against Kelantan, whom they have beaten three times in four meetings this season.

Negri were winners in the two Super League matches (2-0, 1-0) and also beat the Red Warriors (1-0) in the FA Cup semi-final first-leg match in Kota Baru.

“We have a good knowledge of their game and we are not intimidated by their fanatical fans at all as proven in our two matches in Kota Baru,” said Rezal.

“Everything is working smoothly for us even without the foreign players. I believe we can cap a fine season to make up for the disappointment in 2006 when we lost to Perlis in the final.”

Negri last won the Malaysia Cup in 1948.

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