Canaries in line for second silverware after retaining the Super League title
KUALA TERENGGANU: Defending FA Cup champions Kedah and four-time winners Selangor are through to the FA Cup final.
The Canaries, who are gunning their second silverware this season after having retained the Super League title, defeated Pahang 2-0 in the semi-final second-leg match at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan last night to qualify 6-1 on aggregate.
Kedah, who also won the Malaysia Cup title last season, proved that they were still a formidable side even without their influential foreign players – striker Marlon James, centreback and skipper Bernard Huggins and midfielder Nelson Martin. The trio did not play in the first-leg match last Saturday.
James and Huggins have returned home to St Vincent and Grenadines to play in the Concacaf qualifying rounds of the 2010 World Cup.
The duo are also expected to miss the final but Kedah have Chilean midfielder Martin back from suspension.
In the other semi-final tie, Selangor drew 1-1 with Terengganu in the second-leg match at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu last night to advance 3-2 on aggregate. R. Surendran put the Red Giants in front in the 48th minute before Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin equalised for the Turtles in the 67th minute.
Selangor had their best men except for centreback Evans Chislo and striker Indra Puta Mahayuddin, who were out on suspensions. However, both teams stated off cautiously and had little to offer in the first half.
Three minutes into the second half, Surendran, who started ahead of regular Frank Seator, broke loose from the left and he beat goalkeeper Mohd Zairie with a curling shot.
Terenggnau brought in Sukma striker Abdul Manaf Mamat for an ineffective Nigerian Emmanuel Ifeanyi in the 50th minute. The tactical change put some pressure on the Selangor backline and Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin equalised when he pounced on a loose ball in the 67th minute.
Selangor lived dangerously in the last quarter of the match as Terengganu kept up the attack. Another goal would have forced the game into extra time but Selangor hung on to qualify for the final, which will be played at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.
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