Red Warriors’ night
Kelantan edge Forces to complete historic treble after extra-time
SHAH ALAM: Kelantan completed a historic M-League treble after edging Armed Forces 3-2 in a thrilling Malaysia Cup final at the Shah Alam Stadium last night.
Veteran Indra Putra Mahayuddin was the hero for the Red Warriors when he scored the winner in the 96th minute to hand the east coast side their second Malaysia Cup title. Earlier in the season, they won the Super League and the FA Cup titles.
The Red Warriors’ sensational striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha hit a brace in the 44th and 50th minutes but Forces replied through Rezal Zambry Yahya in the 49th and Marlon Alex James in the 62nd to force the match into extra-time.
And immediately after Indra’s goal, Forces almost thought they were back in the game when James put the ball into the net but the referee ruled his effort offside.
Kelantan coach Bojan Hodak said his team’s individual quality made the difference.
“It is the classy players like Norshahrul, IndraandS. Subramaniam that turned the tide in our favour,” said an elated Hodak after the match.
“I was confident of winning the match although Forces managed to equalise. We had been in that situation too often and had come out as winners so I was not worried.”
Meanwhile, Forces coach B. Sathianathan saidhe was proud of his players who gave a good show in the final.
“We never gave up and gave Kelantan a run for their money. We let in a soft goal and if we had converted our chances in the secondhalf, the outcome would have been different,” said Sathianathan.
The east coast giants were very much in the driver’s seat for the better half of the match but were let down by their poor finishing.
As with all Cup finals, the match got off to a cagey start but came to life towards the end of the first half when Norshahrul’s shot squirmed through Forces’ goalkeeper Farizal Harun’s grasp for the opening goal just before the break.
Forces came back stronger after the break and looked much more fluid and coherent with their passing game.
Forces got their lucky break after Kelantan centreback Subramaniam picked up an injury in a tussle with Forces’ Hairuddin Omar and had to be substituted.
Aminute after Subra was taken out, Rezal equalised for Forces with a longrange shot. But the joy was shortlived as barely a minute later, Norshahrul restored Kelantan’s lead.
The Malaysian international dribbled past Forces’ right-back K. Reuben to let fly a thunderous shot to the top of the net.
Saint Vincent and Grenadines international James restored the parity in the 62th minute after he headed in a free-kick taken by Mohd Zaquan Adha Radzak to force the match into extratime.
And Indra, who squandered several goal-scoring chances from freekicks, redeemed himself with the winner by controlling Mohd Badri Mohd Radzi’s pass and then unleashing a shot to the top corner.