Kelantan are hoping to stage one of the greatest fightbacks ever when they attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit against Terengganu in the second-leg of the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru tomorrow.
Kelantan team manager Azman Ibrahim, however, admitted that the odds were stacked against them after they had lost the first-leg match 3-1 at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
But Azman believes all is not lost yet, saying “Kelantan have been in a similar position before and have bounced back to overturn a three-goal deficit against Perlis in the FA Cup competition six years ago”.
“If we can repeat what we did in 2005 in Kelantan, I am sure we can overcome the two-goal deficit against Terengganu as well,” said Azman from Kota Baru yesterday.
Then, Kelantan lost 4-1 to Perlis in the first-leg of the second-round match in Kangar. But Kelantan turned on the heat in Kota Baru for the return-leg, winning 5-2 to force the game into extra-time and penalty kicks, which ended with both teams tied at 6-6 on aggregate. Kelantan went on to qualify for the quarter-finals when they won the shootout 4-2.
Kelantan head coach Datuk M. Karathu is confident his boys will not let the home fans down.
“It is possible for us to win 2-0,” said Karathu even though they will miss the three key players who were sent off in the highly-charged match in Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
The suspended trio are defenders Mohd Aziz Ismail and Mohd Daudsu Jamaluddin and midfielder Mohd Shakir Shaari.
“It is a do-or-die match for us. We need goals but, at the same time, we cannot let them score,” said Karathu, who has depth in attacking players, led by Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Ramzul Zahini Adenan, S. Chanturu, Nurul Azwan Roya, K. Solihin, Izuan Solahuddin and skipper Mohd Badhri Radzi.
Kelantan have won big at home and their biggest victory was against Felda United (6-0) in the Super League.
The last meeting between Kelantan and Terengganu in Kota Baru ended in a 1-1 draw. In the FA Cup final this year, Terengganu edged Kelantan 2-1 after extra-time.
Karathu is also expected to tigthen his back line and will be counting on S. Subramaniam, Rizal Fahmi and Mohd Farishan Ismail to keep the speedy Terengganu forwards at bay while Khairul Fahmi Che Mat will start in goal.
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