ALOR STAR: Kedah and Perak scored wins over Singapore sides in their final group matches of the AFC Cup tournament last night to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Newly-crowned Super League champions Kedah ended Singapore’s Home United winning run in Group D with a thumping 4-1 win while Perak stunned Singapore Armed Forces 2-0 in Group E.

It was sweet revenge for both the Malaysian sides, who were soundly beaten by the Singapore clubs in the first round.

Clear the way: Home United’s Shahril Alias (in front) tries to clear the ball from Kedah’s Marlon James during their AFC Cup match in Alor Star last night. – CHIN CHENG YEANG / The Star

Both Kedah and Perak qualified for the quarter-finals as two of the three best runners-up in the five-group preliminary rounds.

The Singapore clubs advanced as the champions.

In Alor Star, the Canaries shook off an early setback to avenge their 1-5 defeat by Home United in the first round.

The Singapore League champions took the lead with a fifth-minute strike by striker Kengne Ludovick. But Kedah continued to take the fight to Home United with Marlon James, Hasmawi Hassan, Badrul Bakhtiar and Mat Sabre Abu taking shots at goal.

And Nelson Martin got it right for Kedah with a free kick in the 41st minute.

Kedah took the lead immediately after the start of the second half with Mat Sabre racing past the Singaporean defence to meet a long through ball from James.

Home United conceded a penalty in the 58th minute and Martin made the conversion. James was on target for goal number four for Kedah in the in the 82nd minute.

Perak, who were handed a 1-6 bashing by Singapore Armed Forces at the Perak Stadium last month, made amends to get full points with goals from skipper Ahmad Shahrul Azahar (21st) and Mohd Hardy Jaafar (70th) in their away match at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Both teams finished on 13 points but the Singapore side emerged as the group winners with a better goal difference.

Article source:

TheStar Sports

PENANG: Kedah have a foot in the AFC Cup quarter-finals. But they are leaving nothing to chance in their final Group D fixture against leaders Home United of Singapore at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star tonight.

They made a request for the services of two of their players in the national team preparing for the Inter-Continental Under-23 tournament Cup tournament, which will be played in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, beginning tomorrow.

National coach B. Sathianathan agreed to release winger Badrul Baktiar but rejected Kedah’s request for striker Mohd Khyril Muhymeen.

Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor, who has successfully led the Canaries to retain the Super League title earlier this month, said yesterday: “We are not too disappointed that we will get only one player back to strengthen the side.

“For Khyril, we have able replacement to choose from in Saramsak Kram, Hasmawi Hassan and Shafiq Jamal. All of them have recovered from injuries.”

Azraai added that Kedah would also be out to salvage some lost pride after the 1-5 rout by Home United in the first-round match.

“The players are properly rested after the successful campaign in the Super League.

“ We want to show our superiority at home again and qualifying for the AFC Cup quarter-finals will give my young side more international exposure,” he said.

Perak, the other Malaysian team in the competition, are also in with a shot to reach the quarter-finals.

Coach Steve Darby’s side will be up against Group E leaders Singapore Armed Forces in their final preliminary round fixture tonight in Singapore.

Article source:

TheStar Sports