SELANGOR embarrassed themselves when the 32-time Malaysia Cup champions lost their opening Group D match in Kuching yesterday while favourites Kelantan suffered the same fate in Kuala Terengganu.
Selangor looked jaded as they allowed Sarawak, who will play in the Premier League next season, to rally from a goal down to record a morale-boosting 2-1 win.
The visitors, however, took the lead. courtesy of an own goal by on-loan defender Ronny Harun in the 10th minute
But Sarawak rallied eight minutes later through Ashri Chuchu's strike before Sabah on-loan striker, Bobby Gonzales scored the winner in the 65th minute.
Sarawak defended stoutly until the final whistle to claim the three points.
Selangor FA secretary Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin was understandably upset when contacted in Kuching yesterday.
"I do not want to comment... we will discuss about it soon," he said.
Pahang continued their fine form from their successful Super League play-off campaign when they edged T-Team 3-2 in Kuantan to top Group D on goal difference.
Azamuddin Akil (16th), Hafiz Kamal (53rd) and Faizol Hussain (84th) scored for the homesters while Nor Fazly Alias (54th) and Zairo Anuar Zalani (90th) replied for T-Team.
Kelantan were given a rude awakening when they fell 2-0 to arch-rivals Terengganu in a Group B match.
Former Liberia international Francis Doe scored his 22nd goal of the season in the fourth minute when he headed home a Ismail Faruqi's free kick.
Ismail again provided a golden opportunity for Doe to extend Terengganu's lead in the 20th minute but the 27-year-old, who had the goal mouth at his mercy after rounding off goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, mis-kicked the ball.
Kelantan's strikeforce, led by Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, created several chances but all were wasted.
It got worse for the visitors when defender Mohd Daudsu Jamaluddin was sent off for a second yellow card offence in the 68th minute.
Doe created Terengganu's second goal when he outpaced a defender on the left before laying a perfect pass to Ismail, who in turned, tucked the ball home a minute into stoppage time.
Premier League champions Armed Forces recorded a perfect start in the group by overcoming Kedah 2-0, courtesy of goals from K. Rueben (20th) and Zaquan Adha Radzak (81st) in Alor Star.
In Group A, Singapore's LionsXII and Johor FC drew 0-0 while Johor, who finished fourth in the Premier League, held PKNS to a 1-1 draw.
Johor took a shock lead through a penalty by Argentinean striker Muriel Orlando in the 78th minute but Mikhael Nicoise levelled proceedings with a long range effort five minutes from time.
Fahrul Razi Kamaruddin scored a last minute equaliser for Perak in their 1-1 draw with FA Cup runners-up Sime Darby in a Group C match in Selayang.
Leandro Teofilo broke the deadlock when he fired Sime Darby into the lead after blasting a 65th minute free kick.
But Fahrul levelled for Perak when he volleyed unsighted Sime Darby goalkeeper Redzuan Harun.
In the other group match, defending champions Negri Sembilan were held 1-1 by Felda United.
- Harian Metro
- Berita Harian
- Business Times
- My Gadget Planet
- Travelific
- Harum
- Eats
- Properties
- News Image Bank (NIB)
- New Economic Model
- NST Reviews
- NiEXUS
- Friends of Travel Times
- Property News
- NSTLIVE Archive
- Spell-It-Right
