RAZAK CUP Division One defending champions Kuala Lumpur struggled to beat Perak 2-1 in the Central Zone Qualifier at the Ministry of Education pitch yesterday.
And in the Northern Zone, Penang were surprisingly beaten by Perlis 3-1. The Qualifiers will be held over two legs, with the top-two teams in each zone playing in the Division One tournament in Malacca on July 20-30.
The other teams will play in Division Two in Malacca.
Yesterday, national player Nabil Fiqri saved the blushes for Kuala Lumpur by scoring a brace in the first and 61st minutes.
The Perak goal was scored by Riduan Nasir in the sixth minute.
However, Kuala Lumpur had released eight players to the Project 2013 squad which is on a Tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The Project boys have played three matches against the Australian Juniors and were hammered 9-1, then lost 2-1 before holding the Australians to a 5-5 draw. Their fourth match is on Sunday.
“Yes, KL missed the young legs which we released to the Project side. That is why we lacked speed, especially in attack,” said KL assistant coach K. Embaraj.
The Razak Cup Qualifiers will also see national players skipping the second round, because they will be involved in a Four-Nation in Moscow from June 20-26 which involves Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa.
However, fresh registration is allowed for the Division One and Division Two tournament in Malacca, and the best juniors and seniors will be able to represent their states there.
RESULTS -- NORTH ZONE: Penang 1 Perlis 3, Armed Forces 3 Kedah 0.
CENTRAL ZONE: Perak 1 Kuala Lumpur 2, Selangor 3 Project 2017 1.
FIXTURES -- NORTH ZONE (all matches at the USM Stadium) Today: Penang v Armed Forces (5pm), Perlis v Kedah (7pm).
Tomorrow: Perlis v Armed Forces (5pm), Penang v Kedah (7pm).
CENTRAL ZONE (All matches at the Ministry of Education Pitch) -- Today: Kuala Lumpur v Project 2017 (6.30pm), Selangor v Perak (8.30pm).
Tomorrow: Perak v Project 2017 (6.30pm), Kuala Lumpur v Selangor (8.30pm).
STANDINGS
NORTH ZONE
P W D L F A Pts
FORCES 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
PERLIS 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
PENANG 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
KEDAH 1 0 0 1 0 3 0
CENTRAL ZONE
P W D L F A Pts
SELANGOR 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
K LUMPUR 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
PERAK 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
PROJECT 2017 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
SOUTH ZONE
P W D L F A Pts
JOHOR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NEGRI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MALACCA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
EAST ZONE
P W D L F A Pts
KELANTAN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PAHANG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0