FA Cup: Selangor make it despite coach issue

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2009 FA Cup champions, Selangor have proven they are still resilient even though coach P. Maniam has just been rested by Football Association of Selangor (FAS) when they subdued Terengganu 3-1 in the third round of the FA Cup at Sultan Ismail Nasaruddin Shah Stadium Friday night.

The line-up of acting coach, Muhammad Nazliazmi Mohamad Nasir were shocked by hosts when the Turtles found the net first in the 23rd minute via Mohd Shahrul Aizad Zulkufli.

The Red Giants did not panic as three minutes later their Spanish import striker Rufino Segovia equalised and Rufino was on target again in the 68th minute to score a brace.

However it was Indonesian international player, Evan Dimas Darmono who gave Selangor the lead when he contributed a goal in the 60th minute.

With the win, Selangor marched into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Following Selangor's victory was Felda United who edged UKM FC 2-1 at Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Jengka.

Import player, Thiago Augusto Fernandes emerged as the savior of ‘The Fighters' when he scored the winning goal in the 38th minute after both sides were tied 1-1 from goals by UKM FC's Ugandan import Kipson Atuheire in the fifth minute before Gilberto Fortunato equalised in the 13th minute.

Earlier in the evening, two goals by prolific striker Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi and an own goal by South Korea Gisung Yeon propelled PKNP FC into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Kuantan FA.

At the State Stadium in Batu Kawan, Muhammad Shahrel neatly slammed in the opening goal in the 32nd minute followed by a goal by Gisung in the 70th minute before Shahrel scored his second goal in the dying minutes of the match. - Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: National Under-23 squad head coach, Datuk Ong Kim Swee has announced a list of 26 players for national U21 squad centralised training camp at Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya from March 18 to 28.

The centralisd training camp will also be conducted by assistant coach Khan Hung Meng and goalkeeper coach Yong Wai Hwang while waiting for Kim Swee and assistant coach Brad Maloney to return from a monthlong coaching programme in Madrid, Spain.

“One friendly match has been arranged for the centralised camp to meet FAM Cup side, PJ Rangers at Wisma FAM on March 27 before all players are released to return to their respective teams the following day,” said a Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) statement.