Negri Sembilan are looking good for a third straight Malaysia Cup final appearance after beating T-Team of Terengganu 4-2 away at the Sultan Ismail Stadium here last night.
Negri, last year’s losing finalists, got their goals through Shahurain Abu Samah (sixth minute), Hairuddin Omar (25th, 42nd) and S. Kunalan (50th) while T-Team replied through Indra Putra Mahayuddin (11th) and Mohd Norfarhan Mohd (40th).
Negri can now look confidently ahead for the return-leg of this semi-final clash at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Saturday.
In a pulsating first-half yesterday, Negri went ahead after just six minutes when Shahurain finished off a neat pass from the nippy S. Kunalan with a close range shot.
However, their lead lasted only five minutes when former international Indra nodded in the equaliser off a cross by Mohd Fitri Omar.
In-form Negri hitman Hairuddin silenced the home crowd again when he slammed home a cross by skipper Mohd Shukor Adan in the 25th minute.
T-Team’s Zairo Anuar Zailani had a chance to put them level in the 34th minute but his freekick effort went wide off the left post.
The home team’s persistence paid off in an action-packed first-half when Mohd Norfarhan slotted in the equaliser in the 40th minute.
Just when everyone thought that the two teams would be heading for the break tied at 2-2, former international Hairuddin struck for the second time to give Negri a 3-2 first-half lead.
Negri picked up from where they left off after the breather to stretch their lead to 4-2 in the 50th minute – thanks to Kunalan’s clinical finish, placing the ball beyond the reach of T-Team goalkeeper Mohd Zairi Hafiezi Idris.
Indra could have reduced the deficit for T-Team with a thunderous freekick in the 80th minute but Negri goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias was equal to the task, pulling off a magnificent save.
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