Close matches expected in the quarter finals

The Malaysia Cup enters the quarter-final stage tomorrow and given the unpredictable form of most teams in the group stage, fans can expect no-holds barred action. Kelantan may have started the competition as the overwhelming favourites but this is no longer the case.

 

SELANGOR v PERAK

Selangor appear to have rediscovered their verve under interim coach
P. Maniam after K. Devan stepped down.

The 32-time champions were tottering under the verge of elimination but a 2-1 victory over Kuala Lumpur in their final group game gave Selangor new zeal.

Whether Selangor can sustain their form will be put to the test by a Perak side that have done surprisingly well in the absence of several key players.

Selangor were beaten twice by T-Team in Group D while Perak came out tops in Group A unbeaten while eliminating Kedah.

Perak played their last five group matches without the suspended striker Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, captain Shahrulnizam Mustapha and goalkeeper Nasril Nourdin but in Failee Ghazli, on loan from USM FC, they have uncovered a gem after the striker scored four goals in the tournament Coach Norizan Bakar will relish the opportunity to put out one of the pre-tournament favourites and Perak will be a force to reckon with if they make the semi-finals when the suspended players will be available again.

The two teams last met in the Malaysia Cup in 2005 when Perak won 2-1 at home and drew 1-1 away in the group stage but it was Selangor who went all the way to lift the Cup, which happened to be their last.

recent form

• selangor: W W L D W
• perak: D W W W W

previous five meetings
• 2011 Super League: Perak 0 Selangor 0
• 2011 Super League: Selangor 1 Perak 0
• 2010 Super League: Perak 1 Selangor 0
• 2010 Super League: Selangor 4 Perak 1
• 2009 Super League: Perak 0 Selangor 1

FELDA UNITED v NEGRI SEMBILAN

Felda United won their first three group matches but lost steam in the second round when they picked up just one point and even lost to Premier League side Sarawak 1-0 in Kuching.

After a poor run in the league, coach E. Elavarasan did well to guide the club into the quarter-finals for the first time but a heavy reliance on old legs could leave Felda exposed. Farderin Kadir is their main outlet in attack, having scored three goals in the tournament but due to their lack of firepower, no Felda player managed more than four goals in the Super League. Felda, however, can take comfort that they have not lost to Negri when they met for the first time in the Super League this year.

Free-scoring Negri could attempt to take advantage of a Felda defence that appear porous at times as Shahurain Abu Samah and Malaysia Cup-specialist Hairuddin Omar have discovered their shooting boots just in time. Indeed, Hairuddin seems to save his best for the Malaysia Cup, having been on the winning side in the last two finals in 2009 with Negri and 2010 with Kelantan.

With defender Aidil Zafuan Radzak set to return for the knockout stages after injury, his combination with Norhafiz Zamani Misbah will be a tough one to crack and Negri could be looking at a third consecutive final.

recent form
• Felda: L L D W W
• Negri: D W L W W

previous two meetings
• 2011 Super League: Felda 2 Negri 2
• 2011 Super League: Negri 0 Felda 1

TERENGGANU v KELANTAN

Without doubt, this tie is the pick of the four quarter-finals with some going so far as to say this is the de facto final. While the other six teams may have something to say about that, Terengganu and Kelantan can be sure to leave nothing on the pitch once all is said and done. The East Coast derby is arguable the most passionate and ferocious in the country and to the purists it is rather unfortunate the two teams have been pitched together so soon.

But it does provide Kelantan with a chance to avenge their painful FA Cup final defeat when a late own goal forced extra-time as Terengganu went on to win.

Coach M. Karathu, however, would have wished Kelantan were more consistent in the group stage when they surprisingly lost to Felda United away and were held by Johor FC at home.

For Terengganu, failure to beat Negri Sembilan at home in their final group game saw them finish second in Group B and an unwanted pairing with Kelantan.

Terengganu, however, have history on their side having twice beaten Kelantan to qualify for the quarter-finals in 2007 and 2008. They also hold a slight edge in 17 meetings since 2004, having won six games to Kelantan’s five.

recent form
• Terengganu: D W W L W
• Kelantan: W D W L W

previous five meetings
• 2011 FA Cup final: Terengganu 2 Kelantan 1 (aet)
• 2011 Super League: Terengganu 0 Kelantan 3
• 2011 Super League: Kelantan 1 Terengganu 1
• 2010 Super League: Kelantan 3 Terengganu 0
• 2010 Super League: Terengganu 0 Kelantan 0

SABAH v T-TEAM

Sabah and T-Team make the most unlikely of pairings in the quarter-finals, and regardless of which team make the semi-finals, they have been labelled as cannon fodder for either Kelantan or Terengganu at the next stage. Justin Ganai has done wonders for the East Malaysians after taking over from Gary Phillips as Sabah prepare to take their place in the last eight for the first time since 2007, when they made the semi-finals.

T-Team coach Yunus Alif will be a little more confident than Justin however seeing that the Kuala Terengganu club have won all four of the two teams meetings to date. On their way to the quarter-finals for the first time, T-Team stunned Selangor home and away in Group D and romped to a 6-0 win over Police in their final group game to signal their hunger for a maiden major honour.

Expect Sabah and T-Team to give it their all as they look at this year’s competition as their best chance to go deep in the Malaysia Cup. With a host of experienced players, T-Team may just hold the edge over a gritty Sabah side, whose poor away record may return to haunt them.

recent form
• Sabah: W W L L W
• T-Team: W D W W L

Previous four meetings
• 2011 Super League: Sabah 1 T-Team 3
• 2011 Super League: T-Team 3 Sabah 0
• 2010 Premier League: T-Team 2 Sabah 0
• 2010 Premier League: Sabah 1 T-Team 2