Terengganu nail FA Cup in dramatic finale

BUKIT JALIL: Terengganu came back from the death to secure the FA Cup title when they defeated Kelantan 2-1 in extra-time at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.

Super-sub Ahmad Nordin Alias was the hero for Terengganu when he scored the all-important winner in the 110th minute of extra-time after both teams were tied 1-1 in regulation time.

Kelantan were seconds away from creating another milestone in Malaysian football after Nurul Azwan Roya had given the Red Warriors the lead in the 80th minute. But Terengganu equalised in a last-gasp attack which yielded an own goal by Kelantan defender Mohd Daudsu Jamaluddin in the eighth and final minute of stoppage time.

Then came extra-time which produced a dramatic finish in the first-ever east coast final in 90 years. In the end, the Turtles’ never-say-die attitude paid dividends as they lifted their second FA Cup title since 2000.

For Kelantan, it was sheer heartbreak for their passionate fans. They came with the hope of seeing their team create history by winning the Cup for the first time in the 22-year-old competition. But it was not their day.

The fans expected an explosive start but the action on the field was disappointing with only one clear goal scoring attempt at both ends of the field in the first-half.

The first real excitement of the game came in the 21st minute. Terengganu’s prolific goal-getter and international Abdul Hadi Yahaya, with 15 goals to his credit this season, shot wide with only Kelantan goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat to beat.

Terengganu flankers Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin and Joseph Kallang were creating the fast breaks upfront while the Kelantan defence led by S. Subramanian and Mohd Farisham Ismail looked vulnerable at the back.

Kelantan forwards Norsharul Idlan Talaha and youngster Mohd Izuan Solahuddin barely had support with both their central midfielders Mohd Badhri Radzi and Mohd Shakir Shaari losing possession in the opponents’ half.

Terengganu skipper Mohd Mazuki Yusof was outstanding in the sweeper role, keeping Kelantan speed demons Nurul Azwan Roya and S. Chanturu at bay.

Kelantan started the second half aggressively and and skipper Mohd Badhri came close with a glancing header in the 50th minute.

Play was stopped for five minutes after a flare was let off near the Terengganu goal area. An announcement was made on the PA system warning the fans to stop shooting flares onto the pitch or they may have to call off the match.

t

Terengganu’s Sarawakian Joseph Kallang, a constant menace in the Kelantan box , nearly put his name on the score sheet with a fine solo effort in the 57th minute. But Kelantan keeper Khairul was again a stumbling block parrying the ball away.

Kelantan brought in fresh legs upfront in Ramzul Zahini Adenan for the ineffective Mohd Izuan at the hour mark.

And it almost paid off when he picked up a poor clearance by Terengganu goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee and slammed the ball toward an open goal only to see defender Mazlizam Mohd blocking his attempt.

Just when fans thought that the game would go into extra-time, Nurul Azwan Roya broke the hearts of the Terengganu fans with a late goal after he was put through by Mohd Shakir Ali in the 80th minute.

There was nothing national goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee could do as Nurul kept his composure to outpace centreback Mazlizam Mohamed before chipping the ball over Sharbinee and into goal.

Terengganu, though, never gave up and with time ticking away, Abdul Manaf Mamat’s last-gasp attempt in the eighth-minute of stoppage time saw Kelantan concede a freak goal. Abdul Manaf’s attempt was tipped away by goalkeeper Khairul but his defender Daudsu headed the ball into his own goal.

Then substitute Ahmad Nordin produced the winner in the 110th minute to seal a great win for Terengganu.

THE TEAMS

Terengganu: Mohd Sharbinee Allawee, Reeshafiq Alwi, Ismail Faruqi (Ahmad Nordin Alias), Joseph Kallang Tie, Abdul Hadi Yahaya (Mohd Zharif Hasna), Mazlizam Mohd, Mohd Zubir Azmi, Mohd Mazuki Yusof, Abdul Manaf Mamat, Helmi Remeli, Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin.

Kelantan: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, S. Subramaniam (Mohd Rizal Fahmi), Mohd Farisham Ismail, Mohd Shakir Shaari (Khairan Eroza Razali), Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Nurul Azwan Roya, Mohd Daudsu Jamaludin, Mohd Badhri Radzi, S. Chanturu, Zairul Fitree Ishak, Mohd Izuan Solahuddin (Mohd Ramzul Zahini Adenan).

- theStar