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Sunday April 19, 2009

East coast side qualify for first FA Cup final with late flourish

By ERIC SAMUEL and LOGANATH VELLOO

SEREMBAN: Kelantan qualified for their first-ever FA Cup final in 19 years, thanks to the away-goal rule after drawing 2-2 with Negri Sembilan in the semi-final, return-leg match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi last night.

Kelantan, who lost the first-leg 0-1 in Kota Baru on April 7, found themselves in deep trouble yesterday when Mohd Asyraf Al Japri put Negri ahead in the fifth minute.

Negri were now 2-0 up on aggregate and cruising.

Close contact: Chan Wing Hoong of Perlis tackling Selangor’s Mohd Safee Sali (right) during their FA Cup semi-final match at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday. Selangor won 2-1 to go through 3-2 on aggregate. — GLENN GUAN / The Star

But the Kelantan side these days never know when they are beaten and two goals in five second-half minutes completed the east coast side’s dramatic comeback.

Goals from Mohd Norfarhan Mohd (48th) and Indra Putra Mahayuddin (52nd) helped set up a final showdown with four-time winners Selangor, who beat Perlis 2-1 at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday for a 3-2 aggregate win.

Negri surprised Kelantan with an early goal when President Cupper Mohd Asyraf squeezed in a stiff grounder past Kelantan custodian Mohd Shahrizan Ismail in the fifth minute.

Mohd Zaquan Abdul Razak initiated the move from a quick counter attack to catch the ball-watching Kelantan defence off guard.

The Kelantan strike force, led by Indra Putra, Mohd Norfarhan and Khalid Jamlus, barely tested Negri goalkeeper Sani Anuar Kamsani in the first-half.

The 5,000-odd Kelantan fans came alive in the 44th minute when Khalid put the ball at the back of the net but the referee disallowed the goal for off-side.

Kelantan finally got their breakthrough after the breather when Mohd Norfarhan scored off a goalmouth melee in the 48th minute.

Then, five minutes later, Mohd Norfarhan turned provider, sending in a teasing cross for Indra Putra to head home from close range.

The teams were now level at 2-2 on aggregate, with Kelantan having the upper hand on the away-goal rule.

Shahurain Abu Samah had the chance to be the hero for Negri in the 57th minute but, when presented with an open goal, he ballooned his shot.

Kelantan must thank lady luck for making it to their first major final since they last qualified for the Malaysia Cup final in 1970.

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