KUALA LUMPUR: The penalty shootout loss to Kuala Lumpur in the FA Cup semi-finals a few months ago still rankles Terengganu striker Nik Muhammad Sharif Haseefy Mohd Lazim.
The striker, who scored the winning goal when the Turtles defeated KL City 2-1 in the Malaysia Cup semi-final, first-leg tie at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras on Saturday (Oct 21), said they must never let the defeat they suffered in the FA Cup be repeated.
As such, he has called on his teammates to step up to the plate and seal their place in the Malaysia Cup final when they entertain the 2021 champions in the return leg clash at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Nerus on Nov 3.
“I don’t want us to cry again like what happened in our FA Cup penalty shootout loss to them. We must be ready to fight until the final whistle this time to seal our place in the Malaysia Cup final,” said the 26-year-old.
In the FA Cup semi-final in June, KL advanced to the final when they defeated Terengganu 4-2 in a penalty shootout after both teams were tied 0-0 in regulation time.
Meanwhile, Sharif is just glad that he managed to help his team beat KL after the teams drew both their Super League matches - 0-0 in Kuala Nerus in March and 3-3 in Cheras in July.
“This is the fourth time we are taking on KL this year. We drew three of them (except the one we lost on penalties) and this was our first win. Thankful for the win although we were not at the top of our game,” said the former Selangor player.
However, he reminded the Turtles not to be overconfident despite the one-goal advantage as the City Boys will be strengthened by the return of Paulo Josue and Romel Morales in the return leg.
But, before their Malaysia Cup return leg match, Terengganu will first take on Stallion Laguna of the Philippines in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup Group G match in Kuala Nerus on Thursday (Oct 26) and travel to Kuantan for their Super League match against Pahang on Sunday (Oct 29).
Terengganu lifted the coveted Malaysia Cup in 2001 but failed to repeat that feat when they lost to Perak 4-1 on penalties in the 2018 final. — Bernama
