# Felda United train in Nilai for the return-leg
# ‘We will adopt an all out attack against Kedah
On paper Felda United seem to have their backs against the wall after the 2-2 draw against Kedah in the first-leg Malaysia Cup semi-final match at the Selayang Stadium on Wednesday.
The stalemate at Selayang not gives Kedah the comfort of two away goals cushion but home-ground advantage for this Sunday’s return-leg at the Alor Setar’s Darul Aman Stadium.
It stops at that for Felda head coach Irfan Bakti – undeterred by the scoreline nor playing to a partisan crowd as the Red Eagles fans and supporters are expected to swell the support in the stands.
“For Felda there is no such thing as home-ground advantage. It is the same for playing at home or away…so this makes Sunday’s match in Alor Setar a start on equal footing for us,” said Irfan after his team’s training session at Nilai.
The Fighters switched their training ground to Nilai for a “change of environment” for the players.
Irfan reiterated that “nothing is over yet” for a place in the final on Dec 12.
“We will take our win over JDT at Larkin in the quarter-final as an inspiration for a positive result…it is more difficult to play at Larkin than at Alor Setar.
Irfan revealed that veteran Indra Putra Mahayuddin will be his trump card this Sunday. The evergreen 34-year-old veteran sat out the first-leg to serve a one-match suspension for three yellow card offences in the competition.
“Indra will definitely feature in my match plans in Alor Setar. We will adopt the same strategy we used to rattle JDT, go on an all out attack right from the kickoff,” added Irfan.
Irfan, however, wants his players to be fully focused for the do or die battle against the Red Eagles who have the Malaysia Cup aura going into Sunday’s match.
The Northern State have several firsts in Malaysian football and who can forget the treble Kedah achieved – winning the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Malaysia Cup – in 2007 and 2008.
In the first-leg Felda twice took the lead with Thiago Augusto scoring a brace with first coming in the 14th minute and added another on 55 minutes. Kedah, however, fought back and scored through Sandro Da Silva (37th) and Chidi Edeh (63rd) – which could be a deciding factor in Alor Setar.
Irfan is pleased with the current form of Augusto who has scored eight Malaysia Cup goals so far bringing his tally to 13 in all competitions.
“He (Augusto) is scoring…that is more important for us. I am pleased with his return to form after injury kept him out in the league for quite some time.
Irfan also signalled out skipper, former international Shukor Adan for his “leadership qualities on the field” in rallying the team.
“Shukor is a commander in every sense – something which his teammates appreciates during a game.”
As a parting shot, Irfan fired this salvo: “The game is far from over”.
This sets the tone for the biggie at Alor Setar.
