PETALING JAYA, Sept 28 – Rain was no blessing for newly crowned Premier League champions Negeri Sembilan but it was for Melaka United as the home side walked away with a 2-0 win in their opening Group C Malaysia Cup match at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka on Monday.
Brazilian Adriano Narcizo put Melaka United in the lead in the 28th minute with a long range attempt from outside the penalty box after being set up by Manuel Ott. The ball took a wicked bounce to sail past N. Sembilan goalkeeper Damien Lim.
Ott also had a hand in the second goal when he sent S. Kumahraan through on the left and the latter raced through before lifting the ball over Damien and into the far corner. This was in the 65th minute.
N. Sembilan had their fair chances but Alain Okono and Francis Kone either muffed their attempts or found Melaka goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat unbeatable on the slippery pitch and coach Zainal Abidin Hassan was left smiling for a winning start in the competition which celebrates 100 years this year.
In another Group C match, Kedah FC showed that it is the team to beat in the group with a 3-0 whitewash of Premier League outfit Kelantan United at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar.
The hardworking Zainon Syazwan, a former international was the toast of the Red Eagles with a double striker.
His first came in the 13th minute when ran into space on the left and took advantage of Kelantan United goalkeeper Fikri Soh’s blunder when he completely missed the ball on the top of the box. Syazwan gleefully sent the ball into the empty net.
His second came in the 58th minute after Kipre Tchetche scored Kedah’s second in the dying minutes of the first half.
In Group D, defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) had no difficulty in defeating Kelantan FC 2-0 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru with a penalty by Bergson da Silva (31st) and Safawi Rasid (61st).
At the Petaling Jaya Stadium the match between Petaling Jaya City FC and Sabah ended in a 1-1 draw.
Darren Lok equalised for PJ City in the 79th minute to wipe out Sabah’s 20th minute lead via a freekick by Par Tae Su.
Sabah muffed a penalty in the 65th minute when PJ City goalkeeper Kalamullah Al-Hafiz saved Levy Madinda’s spot kick.
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