Turtles Rule...

...as Giants Slained

After a ten year wait Terengganu finally returned to the final of Malaysia premier football competition, the Malaysia Cup. They eliminated Selangor 4-1 on aggregate which ended the Red Giants 'Mission 33' and set themselves for a 'double' after winning the FA Cup in June.

Having won the first leg 2-0 Terengganu began the second leg confidently in front of a capacity crowd at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, Kuala Terengganu. Their striking trio of Abdul Manaf Mamat, Ashaari Shamsuddin and Abdul Hadi Yahya put the visitors' under pressure from the start.

However, it was Selangor who found the net first when Rudie Ramli connected with a low cross from Amirulhadi Zainal and diverted the ball past Terengganu goalkeeper, Mohamad Sharbinee Allawee.

Much to the relief of Terengganu players and fans, the assistant referee's flag was raised indicating the goal would not be counted for offside. It was a wake up call for Terengganu and they realised Selangor would not make it easy for them.

Thus they doubled up their efforts and tested Selangor goalkeeper, G. Jeevanathan in quick succession through Ashaari and Joseph Kalang Tie. However the on-loan goalkeeper stood the tests well to ensure his goal stayed intact.

Then in the 20th minute in a quick counter-attack, Hadi found Ashaari on the right wing and his delivery into the box found Manaf who took it under his control before selling a dummy to Selangor defender, Rozman Roslan. He then beat the unrushing Jeevanathan for his sixth goal of the current Malaysia Cup campaign.

The compact Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium erupted with joy as thousands of Terengganu fans celebrated the goal.

The match was played at a high tempo but there was no overly physical encounter, making the referee's job that much easier. The partnership of skipper Mohamad Mazuki and Faizal Mohamad at the heart of Terengganu defence was working well to thwart the Selangor attack.

Without their inspirational skipper, Amri Yahyah Selangor looked lost at times. Maniam decided to start with Amri on the bench, fearing he would not last the whole match as he was still recovering from an injury.

He only made his appearance in the last twenty five minutes but instead Terengganu were the one inspired when Ashaari when receving the ball from Mazlizam Mohamad from the right, lifted the ball with his toe before unleashing an unstoppable volley past Jeevanathan who dived in vain to stop the shot.

Terengganu were four goals up on aggregate and all seemed lost for Selangor. But credit to them for their fighting spirits, the Red Giants managed to pull a goal back through Safiq Rahim who came in unmarked from midfield to head home from close range.

But with three minutes of the match left, it was too little too late and when the referee blew the final whistle it was a scene of celebration at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah as Terengganu fans celebrated their team progress to their first Malaysia Cup final in ten years.

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