Skuad Terengganu turun ke Stadium Darulaman malam ini dengan semangat membara.Kejayaan menundukkan barisan berpengalaman Perlis diperingkat suku akhir memberikan satu tonik tambahan untuk menghadapi lawan yang dianggap pasukan pilihan, Kedah Darul Aman dalam saingan peringkat separuh akhir malam ini.Pemain-pemain Terengganu semakin bersemangat untuk mengaibkan Kedah di gelanggang lawan malam ini namun mereka mengakui bahawa bukan jalan mudah untuk menundukkan barisan 'hebat' milik Kedah.Barisan pemain Kedah merupakan barisan bintang manakala pemain-pemain Terengganu pula adalah barisan yang mampu membuat kejutan malam ini.
Berbekalkan semangat pernah menundukkan Kedah ketika saingan liga di Kuala Terengganu, anak-anak buah Mohamad Nik dan Cheku Marzuki sekali lagi ingin menterjemahkan peluang yang terhidang kepada jaringan yang mampu melenyapkan sorakan lautan hijau kuning malam ini.
A erronous decision by an assistant referee during their match against Perlis in Kangar nearly robbed Terengganu of a place in the last four of the 2008 Malaysia Cup competition. However, despite the setback Terengganu managed to confirm their place in the semi-finals after a sudden death penalty shootout victory.
Goalkeeper Ahmad Sharbini Allawee emerged as the hero for the Turtles as he denied Perlis on numerous occassions and saved three Perlis penalties before slotting home the winning one himself. The goalkeeper who hails from Duyong Island should have been named ‘Man of the Match’ for his performance but instead the award went to the home side skipper Fauzi Nan.
After a goal-less first leg in Kuala Terengganu, Perlis began the match with strong determination to win and their performance for the first eight minutes indicated that intention. However, a quick counter-attack saw Liew Kit Kong stiff shot was saved by Perlis goalkeeper, Zainal Rabin.
Terengganu confirmed their place in the last eight of the 2008 Malaysia Cup competition despite an unconvincing performance in their 4-2 win over Sarawak at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium last night.
Goals from Jocian Bento Dos Anjos, Che Hishamuddin, Ashaari Shamsuddin gave them a 3-0 lead at half time with Zairo Anwar even managed to miss his penalty after Ashaari Shamsuddin was fouled inside the box . Sarawak replied with a deflected shot by their playmaker Temina Hamid and a superb goal by Joseph Kallang Tie. The home fans were at the edge of their seat before Wan Mohamad Alif Jasmin made sure with a fourth goal deep into injury time.
The Turtles next will face Perlis in the quarter-finals and the first leg against the Northern Lions will take place this Wednesday at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium. The second leg will be in Kangar on Saturday.
