Selangor and T-Team facing tough task to overturn deficit

Selangor and T-Team have the unenviable task of scoring three goals and overturning sizable semi-final first leg deficits in the second legs today to have any chance of making the Malaysia Cup final.

While Terengganu and Negri Sembilan are firmly in the driver's seat for the Oct 29 final, neither side will be taking it easy as complacency can easily set in.

Negri coach Azraai Khor Abdullah will certainly be fielding his strongest side when T-Team, who have never been this far in the Malaysia Cup before, visit Paroi looking to make inroads on the home team's 4-2 lead.

"I have all my players available, nobody is injured although Halim Zainal is suspended. But I have enough options in midfield to fill his place and in Idris Karim and G. Mahathevan, I have capable replacements," said Azraai, who guided Kedah to Malaysia Cup triumph in 2007 and 2008.
 

Poor goalkeeping cost T-Team dear in the first leg and there may well not even be a place on the bench for Zairi Hafizie Idris, who apparently was not truthful over his fitness level ahead of the first leg.

With Indra Putra Mahayuddin suspended and midfielder Shamsul Kamal Mohamad troubled by a knee injury, T-Team face a tall order looking to score three against Negri although 32-year-old right-back Subri Sulong is set to return.

"I think we will need nothing short of a miracle to overturn the two-goal deficit especially when we are playing away and without our key personnel," said coach Yunus Alif.

"Indra has collected two yellow cards while Shamsul has yet to recover from a knee injury he picked up in the first-leg tie. Subri may not make the first 11 just yet as I do not think he is quite ready to do battle with (Negri's) speedy S. Kunanlan on the other side."

Negri are favoured to reach a third consecutive final where they could well meet Terengganu, who have won the Cup only once before in 2001.

While Irfan Bakti Abu Salim will be confident his team can return to the final for the first time in 10 years, Selangor coach P. Maniam cannot say the same.

Maniam had his four-match winning run, since taking over from K. Devan, snapped in spectacular fashion as two Manaf Mamat goals gave Terengganu a 2-0 win in Shah Alam.

With Amri Yahyah sidelined, Maniam's faith in his strikers Fadzli Shaari and Rudie Ramli was so lacking that he chose to field midfielder Azidan Sarudin as the lone striker in the first leg.

However, the ineffective Azidan was pulled back into midfield midway through the first half as Rudie came on for Hardi Jaafar before Fadzli appeared in place of Azidan after the break.

Neither forward was able to score and Maniam is now sweating on the fitness of Amri as even half-fit, the Selangor skipper remains an inspirational leader on the pitch for his team.

Selangor will need all the attacking power they can muster in Kuala Terengganu and Maniam is hoping Amri can play a part in keeping Selangor's "Mission 33" alive.

"Amri will be in the 18 and on stand-by. Whether he plays, I cannot say. We will need an early goal to have a chance and we have to play an attacking game.

"At the same time, we have to defend carefully and not leave holes at the back for Terengganu to exploit," said Maniam in Kuala Terengganu, adding that the team are in confident mood after yesterday's training session.