KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Kelantan were held to a 1-1 draw by Kuala Terengganu T-Team in the first leg of the Under-21 President's Cup football final in Kota Baru on Tuesday.
Danial Ashraf Abdullah put the hosts ahead with a sumptuous free-kick in the 55th minute, curling the ball around the wall and just inside the far post beyond the leap of T-Team goalkeeper Asyraf Azmi at the Sultan Mohamed IV Stadium.
It was national Under-22 striker Danial's tournament-leading 19th goal this year.
T-Team, however, drew level nine minutes later when the Kelantan defence switched off a throw-in as Zarulizwan Mazlan delivered a cross which the unmarked Engku Nur Shakir Engku Yacob headed home.
Kelantan made a bright start with Nik Azli Nik Alias squandering two good opportunities in the opening five minutes before T-Team gradually worked their way back and almost snatched a winner right at the end only for substitute Raimi Shair Muhamad to fluff his lines with only goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed to beat.
That meant there is all to play for in the second leg on Oct 25 when T-Team, making their first appearance in the final, host six-time winners Kelantan, at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium.