Perak SEDC in last eight

PERAK SEDC became the first team to qualify for the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after a 4-1 rout of Super League club Kuala Terengganu T-Team in Tanjung Malim yesterday.

Abu Bakar Fadzim’s side remain top of Group A with 10 points as they reached the lasteight with two games to spare in the Premier League club’s maiden appearance in the Malaysia Cup.

South Korean forward Kim Hyeon-woo scored on his return from injury after half-an-hour at the Proton Stadium before Shahrel Fikri Fauzi doubled Perak SEDC’s lead nine minutes later with his 16th goal of the season.

Hafiz Ramdan made it 3-0 as soon as the second half started and Vincent Weijl added another in the 72nd minute before Joseph Yannick Ndjeng reduced the arrears for T-Team 11 minutes from time.

Abu Bakar hailed his side’s achievement just a year after moving up from the FAM Cup to the Premier League, where they remain in contention for the title and promotion to the Super League.

“Our mission to qualify for the quarter-finals has been achieved so now we can focus on the Premier League where we have a big game on Aug 4 against the leaders Kuala Lumpur,” said Abu Bakar.

“This victory is a credit to the players who have worked hard without little rest. I have been using mostly the same players in most of our nine games this month because they have proved that they deserve to play.

“But for our next Malaysia Cup match on Tuesday (against Pahang) I will probably rest a few to give them a breather since we are no longer under pressure in the Malaysia Cup. Devinder Singh