Tough Group for Malaysia

Malaysia ability to defend the Suzuki Cup will be severely tested when they are grouped together with the opponent they defeated to win the last edition, Indonesia and the 'enemy down south', Singapore in Group B of the 2012 edition of the tournament.

The runners-up of the Suzuki Cup qualifying tournament will complete the group.

Group A will see host Thailand competing with the likes of Vietnam and the Phillippines with the qualifying tournament winner completing the group.

The qualifying tournament will be held in October in Myamnar with the host competing with the likes of Brunie, Cambodia, Laos and Timor Leste competing for the two spots in the final round.


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Terengganu Struggle

Terengganu struggled to overcome bottom team Kuala Lumpur but in the end did just enough to collect all three points as they continue seeking a place in next season AFC Cup tournament.

The 2-1 win came courtesy of Francis Doe's brace, one in each half. Terengganu midfielder Abdul Shukur Jusoh was guilty of squandering two good chances and was a face relieved when celebrating his team-mate's strikes.

Kuala Lumpur equalised through their foreign player, Okine Emmanuel who scored from the penalty spot after Terengganu defender, Muhaimin Omar had fouled a Kuala Lumpur player inside the box.

Faiz Subri notched his fourth goal in as many matches to help his team PBDKT T-Team to a 1-0 win over Sarawak at the State Stadium in Kuching. It was the club side first win in six matches to bring much relief to Head Coach, Yunus Alif.

Kelantan took a big step in retaining their Super League title with a hard fought 3-2 away win over Negeri Sembilan. However they have to come from a goal down when Firdaus Azizul gave the home side the lead just before the first quarter of an hour of the match gone.

Former Terengganu player, Azlan Ismail restored parity when he reacted quickly to a loose ball after Indra Putra Mahyuddin shot from a Norfarhan Muhammad's corner was blocked on the goal-line.

Indra also had a hand in the goal to give his team the lead in the 63rd minute when his pass released Mohammad Ghaddar who managed to stay onside. The Lebanese maintained his cool to beat Farizal Marlias though the goalkeeper could have done a bit better.

Then six minutes later the favour was returned when Ghaddar spotted Indra making his run into the box and played and early ball for the former Malaysian player to tap in from close range.

Shukor Adan then reduced the deficit with four minutes remaining when he managed to steal into the box unmarked to head home a S.Kunanlan corner past Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and his defenders.

However, Kelantan held on till the end and now only needed just one more win from three matches to ensure the Super League title will remain in Kota Bharu for another season.

Meanwhile Selangor and Perak found their ambition to play in the AFC Cup next season coming under serious threat when both of them failed to get a win in their respective matches yesterday.

Bosko Balaban's free-kick gave Selangor the lead in the 63rd minute. The Red Giants then were just two minutes away from taking all three points when a quick attack saw Abdulfatah Safi breaking down on the right.

Despite the attention from a Selangor defender he managed to send a low cross into the box where Kyril Muhymeen was arriving to tap the ball past the helpless Norazlan Razali.

Perak meanwhile failed to use their home advantage when they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of PKNS FC. Johor FC meanwhile furthered themselves from the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Sabah, a result which saw the Sabahawks dropping back into the bottom two.


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Double Despair

Both Terengganu teams lost their Super League matches last night with Felda United inflicted PBDKT T-Team's tenth defeat of the season with a 1-0 win in Kuala Terengganu while Kedah continued to be Terengganu bogey team as they came from behind to win 2-1 in Alor Setar.

Yong Kwong Yong scored the only goal as The Settlers' registered only their second away win of the season.

Up north of the peninsular, defender Muslim Ahmad scored for the second consecutive match with another glancing header, this time from a corner. The third minute goal seemed to wake the home side up and they began dominating the match.

Khyril Muhymeen equalised after twenty minutes when he finished a good cross by Baddrol Bakhtiar from the left after the Terengganu defenders were fooled by a dummy sold another Kedah attacker.

Both teams created chances as they looked for the winner. Ashaari Shamsuddin's volley in the 61st minute went just inches wide of the Kedah goal.

Then The Canaries found their winner in the 69th minute when they broke quickly and as the Terengganu players tried to regroup, Baddrol unleashed a powerful volley that left Sharmiza Yusoff rooted to his spot.

The win ensured Kedah kept up their chance of survival from the relegation zone as their closest rival Sabah also collected three more points thanks to their 4-2 over Kuala Lumpur in Melaka.

Sarawak inflicted Johor FC first defeat in four matches when they won 3-1 at The State Stadium in Kuching.  A twelve minute spell in the second half saw The Crocs leading by three goal with Yosri Dermaraju, Guy Bwelye and Zamri Morshidi putting their names on the score-sheet.

Haris Safwan Kamal replied for The Bees as they found themselves being hauled back towards the relegation zone.

At the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya, the home side PKNS FC also staged a successful comeback when two goals by Mohamad Fazli saw them collecting all three points at the expense of Negeri Sembilan who had gone ahead through a strike by Ahmad Shakir.

In a match played on Friday, Kelantan went to the top of the Super League table after they recorded a 1-0 victory over Selangor in a match that had it's heated moments between the two sets of players.

Lebanese striker, Mohamed Ghaddar scored the only goal of the match. Unfortunately despite being a hero to the Kelantan team he is also the maître provocateur as his actions led to two Selangor players losing their head.