PRESS RELEASE
CHAMPION
OF CHAMPIONS 2011
PERLIS TAKE ON KELANTAN IN FINAL OF CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2011
MUAR (17 Dec 2011) – Perlis delivered a surprise in their semi-final clash with a 1-0 win over favourites Kedah to set up a date against Kelantan in the final of the Champion of Champions 2011 tomorrow afternoon. Kelantan beat Pulau Pinang with a resounding 4-0 in the other semi-final tie.
For the Northern Lions, the only goal coming off Mohd Zafuan Azman’s free kick which left Kedah keeper Mohd Sufail Sofian totally stranded in the seventh minute was more satisfactory.
It provided Perlis with the perfect revenge for their loss in the final of the MyKids National Football Championship 2011 to the same Kedah side last month in Perak.
“It is good to be in two finals out of two tournaments,” said Mohd Shahabuddin Kadir, the chief coach of Perlis. “And for us, it is more satisfactory considering that we have beaten the team which denied us the title last month.
“The key to this game is discipline and the lads showed lots of it today. Sure we won by a single goal but we totally deserved it.”
While Kedah were confident, it was obvious that the early Perlis goal left their tactical play in tatters. And while they did come close when Mohd Shahril Morad banged the upright in the second half, that was the closest they got as Perlis stood firm at the back.
On the other hand Kelantan did not suffer such drama when they totally outclassed Pulau Pinang 4-0 in the second semi-final of the day.
The islanders tried hard to put up a strong defence but a through pass in the 15th minute off Muhd Shahril Shukri was deftly picked up by striker Muhamad Syaiful Alias for a shot past Pulau Pinang keeper T. Shahheeswaran.
In the 28th minute, Nik Akif Syahiran Nikmat then doubled the lead with a looping shot for Kelantan to be 2-0 in front at the break. With Pulau Pinang slowing down, Kelantan then nailed two further goals off Muhd Asyraf Hanif Zaimi in the 56th minute and then Wan Alif Aiman Rosmaidi deep in injury time for the win.
“We are very well prepared for this tournament and I told the players that it would be a mistake to underestimate anyone,” said Ronzi Zainal, the chief coach of Kelantan.
“Now we are a step closer to the title and we should approach the game the same way as we did today against Pulau Pinang – full of hard work.”
The final of the Champion of Champions 2011 will be played at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium tomorrow at 3.45pm.
The Champion of Champions, is supported by the National Football Development Committee, which is chaired by Dato’ Razali Ibrahim, the deputy Minister of Youth and Sports.
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2011
FIXTURES
GROUP A: Pulau Pinang, Selangor, CIMB-YFA, KEDAH
GROUP B: Kelantan, Terengganu, MBPJ FC, Perlis
No comments:
Post a Comment