PERAK EYE SABAH’S SCALP
Durakovic fancies his team’s chances in Malaysia Cup semi-finals
PERAK, who are the second most successful local club in the Malaysia Cup, believe they have a good chance of winning the tournament for the eighth time this season.
Following the 0-0 draw in Ipoh in the quarter-final first leg last week, Mehmet Durakovic’s side defeated PKNS 2-0 in the return leg in Shah Alam on Sunday thanks to Wander Luiz’s brace to qualify for the two-leg semi-finals.
They will play Premier League side Sabah, who qualified on away goals against Kelantan, for a spot in the final.
On the win over PKNS, Durakovic said: “We managed to overcome PKNS for the first time this season with two great goals.
“We controlled the game from start to finish. I thought there was only one team playing good football today.
“I can’t ask anything more from the players,” said the Australian on Sunday.
Durakovic, however, said despite being the favourites, the semi-final clash against Sabah, who finished only sixth in the Premier League, will be tough.
“We cannot take them for granted. Sabah are on a high as they not only knocked out Kelantan, but also topped their group comprising Super League sides, Pahang, Selangor and Perak SEDC.
“I have been in so many Malaysia Cup games both as a player and a coach. There are no underdogs in this competition.
“Sabah have done a fantastic job and they deserve to be in the last-four.
“We will return to Ipoh and prepare for the match. Sabah will not be easy and I will remind my players not to underestimate them,” Durakovic added.
PKNS coach K. Rajagopal said his team did not perform well on Sunday.
“We should have started the match aggressively, but we did not.
“In the second half, we changed our approach by going more direct. There were moments, but the second goal by Perak killed off our chances,” said the former national coach.