TERENGGANU TRUIMPH AT HOME

AWAY GLOOM FOR T-TEAM

Once again it was a mixed night for teams from Terengganu in the Malaysian Super League. Terengganu continued their good home form to register another three points on the board with a 2-0 victory over Kuala Lumpur but T-Team failed to carry on with their winning momentum after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat in Alor Setar to Kedah.

Many Terengganu fans have predicted The Turtles to have an easy ride against the City Boys. From the way the match started it seemed the prediction would come true. The home side was awarded a free-kick just outside the box after Ashaari Shamsuddin's run was cut short with an unfair tackle a minute into the match.

As usual, veteran midfielder Zairo Anuar Zalani who was entrusted with the responsibility in dead ball situations stepped forward. The stadium held its breath and as the ball hit the back of the net it exploded in joyous celebration. For many, it would have meant the opening of the floodgate for a goal fiesta.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead Kuala Lumpur began to get into their groove and both teams seemed to be equal on the pitch for most of the time. Goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee was called upon on a number of occassions that Kuala Lumpur threatened to score but overall he was not really tested.

Both teams failed to create clear cut chances but disaster struck for the home team when referee Abdul Jalil Khalid sent off Mohaimin Omar for what seemed to be just a hard tackle, a decision which incensed the Terengganu fans. Firdaus Faudzi had to make way for Hariri Safii as Irfan Bakti reinforced his rear-guard.

Playing with ten men the match could have gone away for Terengganu but skipper Marzuki Yusoff held his line superbly and they were able to thwart any threat from the Kuala Lumpur front-line. Then as the match was about to enter added time at the end of the regulation time Ashaari timed his run perfectly to connect with a cross from Abdul Manaf Mamat and headed home past goalkeeper Remezey Che Ros. The three points were safe for the Turtles.

In Alor Setar two long range shots gave the home side a two goal lead at half time. Faizal Abu Bakar opened the scoring after thirteen minutes before former Terengganu striker Azlan Ismail increased it in the 25th minute. Goalkeeper Syamsuri Mustaffa could have done better on both occassions.

The Kelantan born striker scored another just before the hour mark when he took full advantage after Syamsuri failed to deal with a cross into the box. His sense of anticipation enabled him to get to the ball first before any T-Team players could react. Kedah were cruising at three nil.

T-Team's Norhisham Hassan replied nine minutes from time when he showed good composure to take it under his control before slipping it past Kedah goalkeeper Eliza. It was T-Team's second defeat of the season which left Che Ku Marzuki's boys still in the bottom half of the Super League table.

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