KUALA LUMPUR:
Pahang were crowned FA Cup champions for the first time when
they defeated Perlis 4-2 on penalties after regulation time and
extra-time failed to produce a goal in an insipid final played at
the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.
The Elephants, who have not tasted Cup final success in 14 years,
danced with joy after the shootout but there was little to shout
about in terms of the performance dished out by both teams.
The National Stadium, which has a capacity of 100,000, was barely
quarter-full, a rather poor turnout for a Cup final.
The action on the field was no better. It looked like anything
but a Cup-tie with a listless first-half dished out by both teams.
There was barely anything to cheer about for the fans.
Pahang’s hunger for success after having not won a Cup final in
14 years saw them start aggressively.
They forced five corners but with no success in the opening 15
minutes.
It was Perlis who had the first real look at goal but Adrien
Jurad Chamrong’s 30m curling free kick was saved by goalkeeper Mohd
Iqbal Suhimi in the 24th minute.
Perlis goalkeeper Mohd Amran Omar was also equal to the task when
he foiled (Man of the match) Pahang striker Josiah Seton’s rising
shot from inside the box in the 28th minute.
Perlis, in a surprise move, left out Kabwe Kamuzati from the
heart of defense and opted for an offensive line-up – a
three-pronged attack – led by Phillimon Chepita, Zacharia Simukonda
and Mohd Lamin Conteh.
But the foreign trio contributed little and were tightly
marshalled by Pahang’s defence, led by John Tambouras and Norhafiz
Zamani Misbah.
It was only after the hour mark that the game caught fire, with
Perlis coming close to breaching the Pahang defence twice through
Manzoor Azwira in the 61st and 62nd minutes.
Manzoor side-stepped Pahang goalkeeper Mohd Iqbal but his
goal-bound shot was cleared by Shahril Faizal Sharifuddin.
A minute later, his shot was parried away by Iqbal.
Pahang: Mohd Iqbal Suhimi, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, John
Tambouras, Irwan Fadly Idrus, Shahril Faizal Sharifuddin, Mitchell
James Prentice, Mohd Fadzli Shaari (Shahrulnizam Sahat), Subri
Sulong, Hairuddin Omar (Azizul Kamaluddin), Indra Putra Mahayuddin,
Josiah Seton.
Perlis: Amran Omar, Adrien Jurad Chamrong, Mohd Lamin
Conteh, Mohd Feriza Ismail, Shariman Che Omar, Aziz Mat Rose,
Moadzalan Emoi, Manzoor Azwira, Zacharia Simukonda, Azi Shahril Azmi,
Phillimon Chepita.
