Project start with flourish

PROJECT 2013 upset the form-book when they beat defending champions Kuala Lumpur 5-4 in the curtain raiser of the 47th Razak Cup at the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Playing in Division One, Project 2013 were heading for a super win as they were leading 5-1, but almost collapsed in the last three minutes against the more experienced KL side.
KL started off with a bang when Faizal Daud scored in the first minute, and it looked like the juniors were in for a hiding.
However, Firhan Ashari levelled for the juniors in the 31st minute, and the boys took control of the match in the second half to score four more goals.
Shazril Irwan (38th), Amir Farid (41st, 4th) and Zulhairi Hashim (49th) gave the Project 2013 squad a healthy lead.
But the more experienced Kl side made a late rally, and rattled the boys with goals from Tajol Rosli (68th, 69th) and Fairuz Ramli (70th) but ran out of time.
"I have no idea why my boys played so badly after taking a good lead. However, I am happy with the three points, and hopefully they learn how to keep their composure in the other matches," said Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj.
KL's Dutch coach Jaap Suyk said his charges mised too many sitters: "They are capable of playing well as they showed in the last five minutes of the match, but missed too many sitters after scoring the first minute goal.
"I believe they did not take the juniors lightly, but paid the price for not being sharp in the semi-circle."
The Project boys, who are being moulded for the 2013 Junior World Cup, will play silver medallists Negri Sembilan today.
Negri Sembilan also had a torrid opening match when they were hammered 5-0 by Johor, before match was abandoned in the 42nd minute due to heavy rain.
The score stood as rain did not stop after the 45minutes regulation, and Johor got their their goals off Robert Alcantara (first minute), Nor Hafiq Ghaffar (3rd, 21st, 39th) and Fikri Basar (42nd).
RESULTS -- Division One: Kuala Lumpur 4 Project 2013 5, Johor 5 Negri Sembilan 0, Perak 1 Malacca 1.
Division Two: Group A -- Singapore 7 Brunei 0, Police 2 Sabah 2; Group B: Selangor 6 Pahang 2, Perlis 0 Kedah 1.
TODAY: Division One -- Negri Sembilan v Project 2013 (Tun Razak, 3pm), Perak v Penang (Tun Razak, 5pm), Malacca v Johor (Tun Razak 7pm).
Division Two: Group A -- Brunei v Police (KLHA, 3.30pm), Armed Forces v Singapore (KLIA, 5.30pm).

STANDINGS

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
JOHOR 1 1 0 0 5 0 3
PROJECT 2013 1 1 0 0 5 4 3
K LUMPUR 1 0 0 1 4 5 0
NEGRI 1 0 0 1 0 5 0
PERAK 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
MALACCA 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
PENANG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

DIVISION TWO

GROUP A

P W D L F A Pts
SINGAPORE 1 1 0 0 7 2 3
POLICE 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
SABAH 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
BRUNEI 1 0 0 1 2 7 0
FORCES 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
SELANGOR 1 1 0 0 6 2 3
KEDAH 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
PERLIS 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
PAHANG 1 0 0 1 2 6 0