FA Cup: Wrap It Up In Kuantan, Boys

7 April, 2015



GEORGE TOWN: Pahang coach Zainal Abidin Hassan does not want his players to leave it until the second leg to get a healthy lead over Penang in their FA Cup quarter-final match-up.

Zainal knows that the FA Cup holders, who take on the Panthers in the first leg at the Darulmakmur Stadium tonight, face a daunting task in the return leg at the City Stadium on April 22.

The City Stadium has been a fortress for the Premier League leaders this season. Penang have yet to lose a competitive match this season, having won five and drawn one of their six home matches.

“The quarter-finals will be decided over two games, so we need to make full use of our home advantage in the first leg. It will be difficult for Pahang if we don’t get a positive result in Kuantan because Penang enjoy good crowd support at home and will be a tough nut to crack there,” said Zainal on Monday.

“I don’t rate Penang as a lower-division team and Pahang will treat them with respect tomorrow. Penang have been improving and their unbeaten run in the Premier League proves that we will not have it easy over the two legs.”

Pahang, who knocked out fancied Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the second round, were made to struggle before overcoming third-tier FAM Cup side MISC-MIFA 2-1 in Kuantan in the third round.

Pahang, last year’s Malaysia Cup champions, will go into Tuesday’s last-eight fixture with a handicap – in terms of rest days – compared to Penang.

The Elephants were in Super League action on Saturday where they triumphed 3-2 over Lions XII while Penang beat JDT II 2-1 in the Premier League a day earlier.

But Zainal reckons his players are used to having a match every three days following their midweek adventures in the AFC Cup this season.

Said Zainal: “On paper, the rest period favours Penang. But we are not too worried about it because we’ve faced the same situation before. Tomorrow’s FA Cup tie will only be our second match following the three-week international break, so the players are still fresh. We’re up to the challenge.”

With the exception of injured midfielder D. Saarvindran, Zainal has a full and fit squad to choose from to face Penang.

Sumber - Oleh Loganath Velloo, Star Online www.thestar.com.my