KUALA LUMPUR: Last season’s runners-up Perlis only managed a draw with Sabah in their first quarter-final match of the FA Cup competition while Johor Pasir Gudang marched closer to the semi-final after beating Kuala Muda NAZA on Tuesday night.
Sabah will have a tough time in the second leg when they meet last year’s runners-up Perlis at the Kangar stadium on May 29.
Sabah drew 2-2 and scored first in the 20th minute through Prince Guy Ative’s powerful shot after receiving a cross from Charles Obi. They got the second in the 43rd minute through Azrul Ejati Damsah 20 metres from the goal.
Two goals by Mohd Nazaruddin Mohd Zain and Phillimon Chipeta within five minutes before the final whistle saved Perlis from returning home empty-handed.
The Rhinos’ manager Rahman Zakaria vows that his team will go flat out in Kangar to secure a semi-final berth.
“Though Perlis has home advantage we will be ready for them, we will not be shaken, we will be going all out in this coming match.”
The Rhinos will be fielding a full strength squad for this vital away match.
“We need to win. It doesn’t matter by how many goals. With steely commitment and with tremendous spirit the Rhinos can come out as victors.”
The Rhinos will train as usual and will be focusing on sharpening up the forward line in search of the vital goals needed.
Striker Obi, the influential Prince Ativie Guy and Hardy Charles Parsi are among the main players to shoulder the responsibility to break down their rivals in Kangar.
Meanwhile, at the Johor Stadium, Johor Pasir Gudang beat Kuala Muda NAZA 2-0 through Hairy Azly Mahamad in the 4th minute and Mohamad Khairul Ismail in the final minute.
The second leg quarter-final matches involving the four teams are on May 29.
Meanwhile, UPB-MyTEAM beat Malaysian Defence Forces (ATM) 3-1 in a Premier League match at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Cheras.
Harris Safwan scored twice in the 33rd and 73rd minutes and Marin Mikac added another in the 75th minute for UPB-MyTEAM.
With the win, UPB-MyTeam share 31 points with Police at the top of the table standing and they are separated by goal difference.
