Ivory Coast hitman Kipre Tchetche got his name into the scoresheet again as Terengganu handed defending champions Pahang a 2-1 defeat in the first-leg FA Cup quarter-final match at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Wednesday.
Despite the win, the Turtles will have a mountain to climb in next week’s return leg at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan – the venue where the Elephants handed Terengganu a 3-0 beating in a Super League match.
For Terengganu, it was an inspiring performance on a night when skipper, English-born Lee Tuck was the livewire and had a hand in both the goals against Pahang.
Pahang played without their Nigerian hitman Dickson Nwakaeme were 1-0 down as early as the ninth minute when Lee Tuck sent a perfect pass to Abdul Malik Ariff who easily beat Helmi Eliza Elias.
Lee Tuck was again in the thick of the action and on 26 minutes sent Tchetche through the Ivory Coast outwitted Pahang’s Frenchman Herold Goulon before drilling home a low right-footer into the far corner.
Pahang mounted several threatening raids but found Terengganu’s 41-year-old custodian Suffian Rahman a stumbling block between the posts.
Suffian, a former international, however, could not stop a Jose Eduardo header in the 58th minute off a cross from Pahang skipper Matthew Davies and the Elephants threw themselves a lifeline of an away goal. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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