Perak SEDC close in on target
PERAK SEDC are poised to become the first team to qualify for the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals should the Premier League club overcome top-flight side Kuala Terengganu T-Team in a Group A match today.
From humble beginnings last year in the FAM Cup where they emerged runners-up, coach Abu Bakar Fadzim’s side could complete a meteoric rise by earning promotion to the Super League at the end of the season.
Though fourth in the Premier League table, they are only one point behind league leaders Kuala Lumpur, who they meet on Aug 4, with four matches remaining.
But first there is the matter of advancing in the Malaysia Cup with Abu Bakar eyeing a repeat of a 2-1 upset of T-Team in the away fixture on July 4.
“We have a chance to be the first to reach the quarter-finals but we need to win this match to do so,” said Abu Bakar whose side have lost only once in their last eight matches in all competitions.
“We set ourselves a target of reaching the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals and to finish as high as possible in the league and we are close to achieving both.”
As today’s first match kicks off in the evening at the Proton Stadium in Tanjung Malim, Perak SEDC have the chance to be the first side to seal a last-eight spot.
They currently top Group A with seven points while Pahang are next on three points with TTeam and Negri Sembilan on two points each.
Abu Bakar will have Kim Hyeon-woo available after the South Korean forward was scratched from Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Perlis when he injured himself in the warm up.
With defender Syazwan Zaipol Bahari also back from national Under-22 duty, Abu Bakar is spoilt for choice in picking a winning line up.
Perak are another team able to secure their berth in the quarterfinals today should they beat PKNS in Shah Alam in a Group B match and Kuala Lumpur fail to overcome Felda United in Selayang.
A three-way battle in Group C sees Kedah, Kelantan and Melaka all tied on six points and everything still to play for.
But Melaka sufferred a blow when defender Jasmin Mecinovic was ruled out for two months with a knee injury as they prepare to host Kedah at the Hang Jebat Stadium.
The Macedonian centre-back is due to undergo surgery on the injury he suffered on July 18, leaving him to return to action in October at the earliest.
Selangor could also secure a last-eight berth from Group D with an away victory over Terengganu combined with a win for Darul Ta’zim against Sarawak in Kuching. Devinder Singh