KUCHING: Defending champion Perak booked their berth in the quarterfinals of the SUKMA football competition after beating Negeri Sembilan 2-1 in a Group D match at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Stadium in Kota Samarahan, here today.
The win, Perak’s second in as many matches, gave the defending champion six points to top Group D and qualify for the quarterfinals while Negeri Sembilan also made it from Group D despite the loss.
In today’s match, Negeri Sembilan took the lead through N. Thanabalan in the 36th minute of the first half but Perak fought back in the second half with two goals from Muhammad Aiedil Shafiq Aznan and Muhammad Faizzzwan Dorahim in the 59th and 71st minutes respectively for the win.
Host Sarawak and Federal Territories also made it to the quarterfinals from Group C as the runner-up and winner respectively after a 2-2 draw at the State Stadium in Petra Jaya.
Mohamad Ramadhan Jalil and Muhd Arif Mohd Anwar scored for FT in the 17th and 78th minutes while Sarawak scored through Tommy Mawat Bada and Nor Azizi Ramlee in the 18th and 82nd minutes. -- Bernama