# Nine-man Terengganu crippled with two direct red cards
# Kedah soar to huge 5-0 win with Brazilian Sandro’s hattrick
# Kelantan held by Felda United 1-1 in Kota Bahru
Twice treble champions Kedah signalled their return to the big league with a hug 5-1 whitewash of Terengganu in a Group A Malaysia Cup match at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar on Friday.
The Red Eagles soared – riding on two direct red cards to Terengganu – one in each half which left the Turtles crippled on a night when the visitors simply could not get their act right after absorbing the pressure in the first half.
Defender Hafizal Mohamad was the first to go when referee Nazmi Nasaruddin did not hesitate to bring out the red card for a late tackle on Kedah dangerman Farhan Roslan on 25 minutes after he was beaten to the ball.
National striker Nor Idlan Talaha got his marching order on 74 minutes. It was a disgraceful act by Mat Yo, as he is popularly known in the football fraternity, when he stepped on a fallen Osman Yusof after challenging for the ball. He deservingly got the sack.
Even with a player short after Hafizal’s sacking Terengganu held their own. Kedah were rather frustrated in breaking down the Terengganu wall until the 52nd minute when Brazilian Sandro Da Silva Mendonca netted his first of the three on the night.
Sandro’s stinging right footed shot from the top of the box took a bounce in inside the six yard and hit the back of the net with Sharbinee Allawee well beaten. The former international was virtually unbeatable until then.
In the 65th minute Sandro got his second on the night from the penalty spot after Vincent Bikana was hauled up for bringing down Kedah’s Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh. Kedah 2-0.
It was 3-1 after 71 minutes and the hardworking Roslan Farhan was at the right place at the right time – taking advantage of ball watching Terengganu backline – and beat Zubir Azmi to the ball to send it into the box.
Then came the unbecoming act from Norshahrul and it showed that Terengganu had completely lost focus on a night of shame which left coach Ahmad Yusof looking at his watch more than watching his players. It were probably the longest minutes for him.
The Red Eagles were not finished yet and added two more in the last 10 minutes of play. Sandro completed his hattrick on 82 minutes with a right footed pile driver that Sharbinee never saw.
Substitute Alif Fadhil, promoted from the President’s Cup team, hammered the final nail into the Terengganu coffin with a well taken header. Kedah 5 Terengganu 0.
“This is an expected huge win for us in the Malaysia Cup campaign. And we will build our team for our Super League next season with the same players,” said Kedah coach Tan Cheng Hoe after the match.
In their first match – which was against Singapore outfit Lions XII – Kedah came off with a 1-1 draw at the Jalan Besar Stadium and now sit on the top of the table with four points after two matches.
In a Group C match played at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Bahru, Kelantan, 3-0 winners over Selangor away in their first match, were held to a 1-1 draw by Felda United.
Gilmar Da Silva gave Kelantan the lead soon after the break before Syamim Yahya got Felda’s equaliser.
MALAYSIA CUP RESULTS (Friday Sept 18)
GROUP A
Kedah 5 Terengganu 0
GROUP C
Kelantan 1 Felda United 1.
