Sports

Wednesday March 11, 2009

Johor FC pick up a point in their AFC Cup debut

PETALING JAYA: Johor FC picked up a point in their AFC Cup football debut when they held VB Sports Club of Maldives to a goalless draw in a Group F match at the JCorp Stadium in Pasir Gudang yesterday.

But it was a bad start for last season’s treble winners Kedah, who slumped to a 1-3 defeat by Vietnam champions Hanoi ACB in a Group G match in Hanoi.

Both the Malaysian teams are playing in the Asian club’s second-tier competition with a handicap of not having any foreign players to strengthen their sides following the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) decision on teams to go all-local this season.

However, it was a satisfactory result for Johor FC, who are under the charge of Ramlan Rashid. They are in the competition as the third-placed team in the Super League last season.

The two slots for Malaysia in the regional tournament are for the Super League and FA Cup champions. Kedah clinched both titles and Super League runners-up Negri Sembilan were offered the second slot. They declined the offer and Johor FC took up the chance to play in the competition.

Kedah, who made it to the quarter-finals last year, will have to make amends in their remaining fixtures. Their other opponents in the group are Chonburi FC of Thailand and Hong Kong’s Eastern Athletic.

Johor FC’s other opponents are PSMS Medan of Indonesia and South China of Hong Kong.

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