Gold for silver state
Perak hand Terengganu first loss in Razak Cup final
IPOH: Perak lifted the Razak Cup Division One title for the eighth time when they dethroned Terengganu with a 3-2 win in a pulsating final at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
It was Terengganu’s first loss in a final. They also made the final in 2012 and 2016 but emerged champions on both occasions.
Perak went for the jugular and could have taken an early lead, but Shazrul Imran Nazli missed with just goalkeeper Mohamed Hafizuddin Othman to beat.
There was little to separate the teams as both had chances to score.
Perak, however, achieved a breakthrough in the 30th minute when Mohamed Najib Abu Hassan scored a field goal.
Terengganu started the second half strongly and managed to score the equaliser in the 35th minute when international forward Faizal Saari converted their fourth penalty corner.
Not deterred, Perak continued to surge forward. They were rewarded in the 53rd minute through a field goal by Mohamed Haziq Shamsul.
Terengganu again fought back with Faizal converting a penalty corner in the 56th minute.
Perak, however, had the last laugh when Hafifihafiz Hanafi scored from a penalty corner variation in the 59th minute.
Perak also won an individual award through Mohamed Haziq, who was named the final’s manof-the-match
Faizal earned a consolation as he bagged the top-scorer award with nine goals.
Earlier, Melaka finished third when they edged Negri Sembilan 1-0.
Mohamed Farid Ziyad was the hero, netting in the 10th minute.
Meanwhile, Perlis gained promotion to Division One after beating Selangor 2-0 in the Division Two final.
Azhad Akmal Mohamed Fahmi starred for Perlis with a brace in the 16th and 52nd minutes.
It was a tournament to remember for Perlis as they also swept all the four individual awards through Azhad Akmal ( man- ofthe-match for the final), Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (top scorer and best player) and Faizal Aziz (best goalkeeper).