KL cruise, Perak stutter...

DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur cruised to a 6-3 win over Penang in Division One of the 49th Razak Cup at the Bukit Serindit Stadium in Malacca yesterday.
However, silver medallists Perak suffered a 4-2 blow in the hands of Terengganu, while Johor were shocked 2-0 by Armed Forces.
Perak, who play hosts Malacca today, will now face an uphill battle to advance into the knock-out stage after national players Faisal Saari, his younger sibling Fitri, Shahrun Nabil and Firhan Ashaari robbed three points from them with ease.
Syafiq Nordin (21st), Ahmad Alif Nazaruddin (24th), Fitri Saari (51st) and Firhan Ashaari (65th) scord for Terengganu.
The Perak goals were scored by Amir Farid (54th) and Tajol Rosli (70th).
Perak coach Manjit Singh conceded that it will be uphill against hosts Malacca: “We did not play well at all and credit goes to our Terengganu who took their chances well. It will be tough against Malacca (today) but it is a match that we have to win in order to make the last four.”
Armed Forces shocked Johor with early goals from Zulkifli Abdullah (second) and Ahmad Ridzuan (15th) and dug in their heels after that and Johor could not find any opening in the second half.
“We created enough chances but failed to score and it was always going to be difficult when you concede two early goals against a fitter opponent,” said Johor coach Gurmit Singh, a former Armed Forces player.
And for the Army men, they will be up against Penang next, and the form book favours them as they beat Penang 5-0 in the Qualifier.
RESULTS: Division One (Group A) -- Johor 0 Armed Forces 2, Kuala Lumpur 6 Penang 3.
Group B: Pahang 2 Malacca 2, Terengganu 4 Perak 2.
Division Two (Group A): Project 2017 1 Perlis 2, Selangor 10 Kelantan 2.
Group B: Sarawak 1 Sabah 3, Negri 4 Kedah 1.
TODAY: Division One (Group A) -- Armed Forces v Penang (4pm, Pitch I), Kuala Lumpur v Johor (5pm, Pitch II).
Group B: Malacca v Perak (6pm, Pitch I), Terengganu v Pahang (8pm, Pitch I).
Division Two (Group A): Perlis v Kelantan (7.30am, Pitch II), Selangor v Project 2017 (9am, Pitch II).
Group B: Sabah v Kedah (7.30am, Pitch I), Negri v Sarawak (9am, Picth I).

STANDINGS\

DIVISION ONE

GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
K LUMPUR 1 1 0 0 6 3 3
FORCES 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
JOHOR 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
PENANG 1 0 0 1 3 6 0

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
TERENGGANU 1 1 0 0 4 2 3
PAHANG 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
MALACCA 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
PERAK 1 0 0 1 2 4 0


DIVISION TWO

GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
SELANGOR 1 1 0 0 10 2 3
PERLIS 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
PROJECT 2017 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
KELANTAN 1 0 0 1 1 10 0

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
NEGRI 1 1 0 0 4 1 3
SABAH 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
SARAWAK 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
KEDAH 1 0 0 1 1 4 0