Pahang, T-Team and Negri fighting for last eight spot

PETALING JAYA: The spotlight will be on Group A when the Malaysia Cup action resumes next week.

With just one more match left, three teams – Pahang, T-Team and Negri Sembilan – are jostling to join leaders Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) in the quarter-finals.

Premier League debutants PKNP lead Group A with 10 points from five matches.

The outcome from the final round of matches on Sept 9 will determine the runner-ups from the group. Pahang, with six points, are the frontrunners as all the Elephants need a win over T-Team at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.

The Titans and bottom-placed Negri are tied on five points. The Titans need to beat Pahang to keep their hopes alive and hope PKNP will do them a favour by beating Negri at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi.

T- Team might just get their wish.

PKNP coach Abu Bakar Fadzim admitted that “our focus is on the quarter-finals” now that they have an unassailable lead in Group A.

“We have two key players coming back from injuries, but we won’t risk fielding them,” said Abu Bakar, who is likely to rest South Korean striker Kim- Hyeon- woo ( groin) and midfielder Hafiz Ramadan (fractured arm).

PKNP are likely to meet a Super League side – either Perak or Felda United – in the quarter-finals on Sept 15.

So far, six teams have checked into the last eight – PKNP (Group A); Perak, Felda United (Group B); Kedah ( Group C); Johor Darul Ta’zim and Selangor (Group D).

Melaka are in the driver’s seat to join Kedah from Group C. Melaka have nine points and need only a draw against out-of-contention UiTM to clinch their quarter-final ticket.

Kelantan, with six points, have only a mathematical chance as they’ll need to beat Kedah in their last match at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar.