GEORGETOWN: Kedah continue to be without the services of their foreign trio and Pahang will be out to exploit on the situation in the FA Cup semi-final first-leg match at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star tonight.
Pahang had lost to Kedah in their two encounters in the Super League this season but their coach Zainal Abidin Hassan now sees a good opportunity for them to end the Canaries’ domination at home.
Super League champions Kedah did not have the St Vincent duo of Marlon James and Bernard Huggings in their side when they began the defence of the Malaysia Cup title last Wednesday.
Out: Kedah’s hotshot striker Marlon James is currently away on national duty for St Vincent.
The duo were with their national team for a World Cup qualifying match.
Chilean Nelson Martin was also out of the side in the match against Police, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The midfielder was serving the first of his two-match suspension for the red card he received in the final Super League fixture against Perlis last month.
”There is no doubt that Kedah are always a force to be reckoned with, especially when they are playing in front of their home fans. But without Marlon and Nelson, they will be weakened considerably,” said Zainal in a telephone interview from Kuantan yesterday.
James and Huggings will also miss the return match on Tuesday.
In fact, if Kedah make it to the final on June 21, the duo will also not see action. They are only scheduled to return to Alor Star on June 26.
Zainal, who will have a full quota of foreign players in his side, was quick to warn his charges from being complacent and over-confident.
”Kedah may be without their very influential foreign players. But they are still a force to be reckoned with. We have to work hard and thread with caution,” he siad.
The last time Pahang made it to an FA Cup final was in 2006 and they emerged as the champions, beating Perlis 4-2 on penalties.
The other semi-final tie is between Selangor and Terengganu.
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