Premier League outfits KL and UiTM secure berths to Malaysia Cup

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) have won the last two Malaysia Cup slots from the Premier League.

Three other Premier League teams – Negri Sembilan (27 points), Terengganu (24) and Perak State Development Corporation (22) – had checked in earlier.

Under the competition format introduced last year, only the top 11 Super League teams and five top Premier League teams at the halfway mark will qualify for the 16-team Malaysia Cup.

KL finished fourth with 20 points after coming from behind to edge Malaysian Indian Football Association-Malaysian Indian Sports Council (MISC-MIFA) 2-1 at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium last night.

MISC-MIFA led through Dmitri Bodric’s 13th-minute goal before the City side finished strongly with goals from Modibo Konte (53rd) and Guilherme de Paula (84th).

UiTM sneaked in as the fifth – and last – qualifiers after holding PKNP 1-1 at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam. UiTM have 18 points.

Shahrel Fikri put the Perak club side ahead in the 13th minute before UiTM’s Nigerian striker Sunday Akanni equalised in the 76th minute.

Police missed the cut after coming in sixth with 17 points. They defeated Sabah 3-1 at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.

Singapore’s Safuwan Baharuddin opened account in the 16th minute before Bakary Dao doubled the tally from the penalty spot in the 34th minute. The East Malaysians reduced the deficit through Maksius Musa in the 39th before Shahurain Abu Samah restored Police’s two-goal lead in the 68th minute.

In Tanjung Malim, Armed Forces edged Kuantan 4-3 at Stadium Proton.

The soldiers’ 32-year-old winger, Venice Elphi, starred with a hat-trick (50th, 55th and 75th penalty) while Zainal Jakaria added the other (24th). Kuantan got their goals through Abdul Malik Mat Ariff (14th), Ljubo Baranin (43rd) and Sim Woon-sub (72nd).

Leaders Negri could only pick up a point after being held to 1-1 draw by bottom team Perlis in Kangar.

Negri led through an own goal by Syafiq Azri Ahmad (90+1) before the Northern Lions drew replied through Alafi Mahmud two minutes later.

Army hero: Armed Forces Venice Elphi scored a hat-trick in their 4-3 win over Kuantan in the Premier League match at Stadium Proton in Tanjung Malim yesterday.