Kedah’s great escape
Surviving Felda test to reach Cup final ends nightmare for Red Eagles
PETALING JAYA: The nightmare is over for Kedah.
And head coach Mohd Nidzam Adzha Yusoff can now sleep easy ahead of the Malaysia Cup final against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Shah Alam Stadium on Nov 4.
“I believe the worst is over for us after our great escape against Felda United in the semi-finals,” said Nidzam.
The Red Eagles were walking on thin ice in the second leg of the semi-finals at Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Saturday after they could only manage a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Jengka, Pahang.
The odds were against Kedah in the return leg as they were without three stalwarts – Kosovan midfielder Liridon Krasniqi, skipper-cum-centreback Khairul Helmi Johari and Danish striker Ken Ilso.
To add to Nidzam’s frustration, another three players – midfielder Sandro Mendonca, Amirul Hisyam Awang Kechik and defender Rizal Ghazali – were carrying a booking each. Another booking would have ruled them out if Kedah qualified for the final.
But everything turned out fine as Kedah comfortably won 2-0 to reach the final on a 3-1 aggregate. Brazilian Mendonca was the hero, scoring a brace in the 71st and 85th minutes.
“There was a doubt on everyone’s mind whether Kedah could get past the semi-finals with all these delicate situations in our hands.
“Thankfully we won. What was sweet is that all the six players will be available for the final,” said Nidzam.
He added: “We employed different strategies for each half against Felda. Our defensive approach worked as we were tied 0-0 in the first half.
“We knew Felda would get desperate and commit themselves to attack in the second half. So, we waited for the right time to counter attack and Sandro found the break to score twice.”
Like Kedah, JDT also won comfortably by beating Perak 3- 0 at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru for a 4- 1 aggregate.
Argentinian striker Gonzalo Cabrera netted a brace in the 57th and 81st minutes while compatriot Gabriel Guerra was on target in the 74th minute.
Both Kedah and JDT will have a chance to test each other before the Nov 4 showdown. They are down to meet in their last Super League fixture in Alor Setar on Saturday.
But with JDT already crowned Super League champions in August and there’s nothing for fourth-placed Kedah to fight for, Nidzam does not want to show his hand.
“We will field our reserves. We will wait for the final to field our best line-up,” said the former international.