The
Kelantan players celebrating with the FA Cup after beating Johor
Darul Takzim in the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday night.
Darul Takzim in the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday night.
KUALA LUMPUR – Reports by ERIC SAMUEL and K. RAJAN: Kelantan showed
that money alone cannot buy success when they tamed big spenders Johor
Darul Takzim (JDT) 1-0 to retain the FA Cup at the National Stadium in
Bukit Jalil last night.
Mohd Norfarhan Mohd’s solitary strike in the 15th minute was enough
for the Red Warriors to clinch victory and a place in the AFC Cup
competition next season.
The spirited Kelantan side were all over an ineffective JDT side
from the whistle and should have netted at least three goals in the
first half.
JDT got off on the wrong footing right from the start and it was no
surprise that coach Fandi Ahmad made all three substitutions in the
first half.
National striker Mohd Safee Sali, who was barely in the game was the
first to leave as early in the 18th minute, for Argentinian Leonel
Nunez.
Their malfunctioning engine room was next. Midfielder Andre
Francisco was substituted in the 35th minute by K. Thanaraj while an
ineffective national skipper Safiq Rahim was replaced by Ahmed Ezrie
Shafizie before the start of the second half.
JDT’s attack, led by two-time MVP Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Nurul
Azwan Roya and Nunez failed to breach the tight Kelantan defence
marshalled by Obinna Nwaneri and Azizi Matt Rose.
They were fortunate the Kelantan forwards left their scoring boots
at home as Dickson Nwakaeme and Mohd Fakri Saarani were having an
off-day, otherwise the scoreline would have been very different.
The Kelantan engine room, led by their inspirational skipper Mohd
Badhri Radzi, was the mastermind behind the team’s strong offensive
play.
It was Badri’s defence splitting pass, which resulted in Mohd Norfarhan’s goal in the 15th minute.
Badri had earlier set up Kelantan’s new signing Mohd Fakri Saarani
but his weak attempt was saved by JDT goalkeeper Mohd Al-Hafiz Hamzah in
the seventh minute.
At the half-hour mark Badri sent a perfect cross for Dickson but the
stocky striker, who was unchallenged in the box, failed to hit the
target.
Five minutes later Dickson went through on a solo run after beating
two defenders but shot straight to goalkeeper Mohd Al-Hafiz.
The reward for the hard working Badri was earning the accolade of the Man-of-the-Match.
JDT got back into the game towards the tail end of the game but it
was a little too late to stop Kelantan from taking the FA Cup back to
Kota Baru for the second time in five years.
The Star online
Sunday June 30 2013.
Kelantan Victory
Gomo Kelate gomo
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