Selangor’s Indra Putra Mahayuddin (centre) shoots at goal against Terengganu.
DESPITE a comfortable 4-1 win against Pahang in the first leg of the FA Cup semi-finals at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star on Saturday, Kedah coach Azraai Khor remains cautious for tomorrow’s return leg at Kuantan’s Darulmakmur Stadium.
Kedah, the defending champions, paraded a local line-up on Saturday as they did not have the services of Marlon Alex James and Bernard Huggins who have returned home to play for St Vincent and Grenadines for the pre-World Cup qualifiers, while Chilean Nelson Sam Martin was serving his second suspension.
“I am proud of the players who soaked up the pressure and then took their chances, but we still need to be cautious in the return leg,” said Azraai.
Shafiq Jamal opened accounts as early as the first minute for Kedah before Khyril Muhymeen made it 2-0 in the 27th.
Kedah got two more after the break through Fauzi Shaari (47th) and Saramsak Kram (81st).
Rosdi Talib got Pahang’s solitary goal in the 67th minute.
“Of course we miss Marlon, Bernard and Nelson but as long as the local players can hold on, we should be able to do well and, hopefully, make it to the final,” added Azraai.
Four-time FA Cup winners Selangor, who edged Terengganu 2-1 at the Shah Alam Stadium, will be in for a tough time in the tomorrow’s return leg in Kuala Terengganu as the hosts are tough to beat at home.
“It was a tough match and we wasted some chances,” said Terengganu coach Yunos Alif. “But it is going to be an interesting return leg where we hope to do better in the scoring department.”
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