Cruising Mode...

...for T-Team

Terengganu club side, PBDKT T-Team recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu last night. Head Coach, Yunus Alif brought in several changes to the side that lost to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

On loan goalkeeper, Mohd Jibrail was relegated to the bench with Zairi Hafiezi making his first start in the 2011 Malaysia Cup campaign. Together with Zairi, forward Haris Safwan Kamal also made his first start in the campaign, taking the place of Shamsul Kamal Mohamad.

At first, the changes did not seem to work as T-Team failed to breach the PDRM's defence. The best chance came when Haris managed to slip inside the box and flicked the ball past PDRM goalkeeper, Muhammad Hamdan Sairi. However, Haris's effort lacked power and defender, Mohd Alif Haikal Ganeson cleared the ball off the line.

But credit to T-Team players, they continued to pile the pressure on the visitors' defence. Then from a corner taken by Zairo Anuar Zailani, PDRM defender Mohd Azrul Azman headed into his own net in his attempt to clear the ball.

As if they were woken up from a deep slumber, T-Team breached PDRM's defence again and again as the match went into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Mohd Norfarhan Muhammad earned another corner. This time Zairo played it short to Farhan who delivered a perfect cross for the running Norfazly Alias to head past Muhammad Hamdan.

It was the defender's third goal in as many matches, making him the top-scorer of his team. No guessing which was the happier coach going to the dressing room happier when referee Azham Musa blew for half-time.

The second half saw the home side created a few chances and from these chances they found the net two more times. On loan striker, Mohamad Fitri Omar reacted first when Muhammad Hamdan failed to hold a stiff shot from Zairo to open his goal account for his new team.

Then Farhan notched the fourth goal when he was put through with just the goalkeeper to beat. It was an easy task and Yunus Alif's men finished the first round fixture in a very good position to qualify for the knock-out stage.

However in Paroi, Terengganu lost their unbeaten run when a solitary strike by striker Shahrunain Abu Samah was enough to see Negeri Sembilan continued their good run against The Turtles at their Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium.

The defeat put Terengganu's hope to qualify for the quarter-finals in balance but many would see no problem for them to secure their place when the second round of matches starts after the international break.



...

Hard Work...

...for The Turtles!

Terengganu continued with their winning way in the 2011 Malaysia Cup campaign but they were forced to work hard in front of their own fans at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu against Selangor PKNS before winning their match 3-2.

Ashaari Shamsuddin's goal in the opening minutes gave the home fans a signal that it could be a night of goals for their side. However it was a false alarm as PKNS began to get into their stride. The away side who also forced Negeri Sembilan to work hard in their opening match found the equaliser when Mohd Fauzan Dzulkifli's shot from outside the box which was way off target took a huge deflection off Terengganu defender Mazlizam Mohamad's leg.

The deflection wrong footed Sharbinee Allawee who could only watch as the ball rolled into his goal. The score remained for the duration of the first half with both teams trying to breach each other's defence but could not find a way through.

Then in the second half Terengganu midfielder Reeshafiq Alwi, who scored with a screamer against Sime Darby FC on Tuesday found the net again. This time it was a composed finish inside the penalty box after he was put through by Ashaari Shamsuddin.

However, the home defence were generous with their defending and PKNS levelled the score again through Mohd Zamri Hassan strike from the top of the box after Terengganu failed to clear their line. It was looking like both teams were going to share the spoils until Mazlizam went up for a corner. PKNS failed to clear their line and the central defender tried his luck with a shot.

It was on target but hit Mohd Zulhariz Mohd Noh's hands and the referee, Mohd Romzi Zahari immediately blew for a penalty. The decision was met with hard protest from the visitors but to no avail in the end. Terengganu striker Abdul Manaf Mamat stepped up and sent Razi Effendi Suhit the wrong way to score the winner for his team.

The win put them level on points with Negeri Sembilan but the 2010 Malaysia Cup finalist have the better goal difference after their 5-0 thrashing of the hapless Sime Darby FC. The match saw Hairudin Omar scoring twice with Shahruain Abu Samah, shukor Adan and Idris Karim also getting their names on the scoresheet.

Yong Kuong Yong scored twice to ensure his team Kuala Lumpur continue leading Group D in their match against PBDKT T-Team who failed to keep up their momentum after registering a 1-0 victory over Selangor on Tuesday. Central defender Norfazly Alias score his second goal in as many match when he found the net once again against the City Boys.

The Red Giants meanwhile put themselves back on winning ways, defeating the Royal Malaysian Police 2-0 with a brace from Mohd Fadzli Saari.

In Group A Perak and Sabah recorded identical 2-1 win over Johor and Kedah respectively to joint lead the group. Failee Ghazli and Shafiq Jamal cheered the home fans with their goals while Azuwad Arip scored for the visitors.

In Kota Kinabalu, Zainizam Marjan and Thanaraj scored for the Rhinos who used their numerical advantage to the fullest after the dismissal of Baddrol Bakhtiar. Mohd Azmi Muslim reduced the deficit for the Canaries towards the end of the match.

Holders Kelantan had to wait until the final few minutes before sealing their victory over Johor FC who surprised the home fans when they took the lead early on through Eddy Helmy. However, his effort was undone by his team-mate when Hamzani Omar put the ball into his own net. It looked like the match was going to end in a draw until Ramzul Zahini's shot trickled past Suhardy Elby a few minutes before the end.

Felda United also continued their winning form with a 1-0 win over Sarawak with the winning goal coming from Nizam Abu Bakar midway through the second half.


...

Great Start...

...for Turtles!

It was a good night for Terengganu football fans with both their teams began their 2011 Malaysia Cup campaign on a winning note.

PBDKT T-Team did a 'triple' over tournament favourite, Selangor with a 1-0 win at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, Kuala Terengganu. The Terengganu club side, having registered 2-1 wins over the Red Giants in the Super League notched the winner through central defender, Norfazly Alias who finished cooly from close range after Selangor defence failed to clear their line properly.

In another Group D match, Kuala Lumpur registered a 3-0 win over the Royal Malaysian Police thus leading the group with a better goal difference to T-Team.

At the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium, Terengganu took a two goal lead in the first half against Sime Darby FC with goals coming from Sarawakians, Joseph Kalang Tie and Reeshafiq Alwi. The latter's goal should be a candidate for goal of the tournament with a forty metre screamer that flew past the home side goalkeeper.

Then towards the end of the match, Abdul Manaf Mamat displayed his cool side when he calmly finished a lay-off by team-mate, Ailim Fahmi inside the penalty area. The 3-0 win was enough to put The Turtles at the top of Group B, having a better goal difference to Negeri Sembilan who won 2-1 against 2011 Premier League champions, PKNS FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya.

Super League champions, Kelantan opened their campaign in Group C with a 2-0 win in Kuching over Premier League side Sarawak. National players Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Chanturu were the scorers as The Crocs failed to use their home advantage to the fullest against The Stags.

Another match in the same group saw Johor FC lost 2-0 to another club side, Felda United at J-Corps Stadium in Pasir Gudang.

In Group A, another Johor side suffered the same fate, losing 2-0 against Kedah while Sabah failed to capitalise on their home advantage after Perak forced them to share a point in a 0-0 draw at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.


...

The Race Starts...

...Now!

With Aidil-Fitri mood still prevail among football fans in Malaysia, the 2011 Malaysia Cup competition will kick off tonight with matches scheduled to take place around the country.

Holders Kelantan will kick-off their defence in Kuching as they take on promoted team Sarawak in an afternoon kick-off in Group C while last years runners-up, Negeri Sembilan travel to Petaling Jaya to face Premier League Champions, PKNS FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Group B.

In another Group B match, FA Cup winners Terengganu will also open their campaign in the Klang Valley, albeit on the other side of town as they take on another Premier League side, Sime Darby FC at the Selayang Stadium.

Irfan Bakti's side will be relatively unchanged with just Harimau Muda defender, Mohamad Faizal Mohamad being the only addition to the squad that won their first silverware for Terengganu since 2001 with their triumph in the 2011 FA Cup final in May.

However, the experienced head coach will be without the service of young left-back Mohamad Zubir Azmi who is on national duty with the Malaysian Olympic squad that will travel to Japan for their first match of the final round of the 2012 Olympic Qualifier on 21 September. Apart from that, The Turtles will be at their full strength.

Another Terengganu side, PBDKT T-Team will host multiple winners Selangor at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu. Head Coach Yunus Alif will definitely looking forward to get another win over the Red Giants, having done the double over K Devan's boys in the recently concluded 2011 Super League.

T-Team will be without their first choice goalkeeper, Syamsuri Mustafa who could miss the whole Malaysia Cup campaign due to a persistent knee injury. Taking his place between the posts could be POS Malaysia goalkeeper, Mohamad Jibril who is loaned from the Premier League side.

Another loanee in the T-Team squad is Mohamad Fitri Omar, a forward with the Muar Municipal Council during the league season. Both of them will have to be at their best in order to win the hearts of the local supporters who will be hoping for a good result against Selangor.

Below are the complete fixture:


GROUP A - JOHOR vs KEDAH, SABAH vs PERAK
GROUP B - SIME DARBY FC vs TERENGGANU, PKNS FC vs NEGERI SEMBILAN
GROUP C - SARAWAK vs KELANTAN, JOHOR FC vs FELDA UNITED
GROUP D - POLICE vs KUALA LUMPUR, PBDKT T-TEAM vs SELANGOR


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