April 21, 2012 8:45 PM SGT
Stadium Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah — Kuala Terengganu
Terengganu 1-2 Sime Darby: Premier League side stun high-flying Turtles on home turf
Sime Darby drew first blood in the first leg of the Malaysian FA Cup semi-final, when they beat defending champions Terengganu 2-1 in Kuala Terengganu
By Syafiq Adnin
Sime Darby continued their dream FA Cup run with a 2-1 win over Terengganu away from home. The troubled Turtles who have hit a rough patch since losing 6-1 to Selangor will have all to do in the away leg.
The home side had the first chance to score early in the match, but Baiano’s long range effort was calmly saved by Redzuan Haun.
Most of the first half were played in the middle of the field. Sime Derby’s Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh asserted himself as the main threat, and Terengganu defenders Muslim Ahmad and Faizal were forced to work hard to stop him from scoring.
Before the first-half ended, Wleh almost broke the deadlock with some wonderful solo dribbling to go past past the Turtles' backline before his tap-in was denied by Mohd Faizal on the goal-line.
But seven minutes into the second-half, the Liberian silenced the home supporters with a calm finish to beat Sharbinee Alawi and give Sime Darby a 1-0 lead.
Just thirteen minutes later, Terengganu hitman Francis Forkey Doe equalised for his team with an easy tap-in after receiving a great pass from Joseph Kallang Tie.
Sime Darby then stunned Terengganu by grabbing the winning goal in injury time.
Syukor Saidin scored the priceless winner with a sweet finish after a great assist from man-of-the-match Wleh.
Terengganu will have to give it everything in the second leg in order to have any chance of winning a silverware this season but going by the resilient and clinical performance in the first-leg it will not be easy as underdogs Sime Derby have shown they are more than worthy opponents.
The second-leg match will be played on May 1, in Selayang, Selangor.
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Leonel Jorge Núñez Striker Darul Takzim |
2 | 0 |
|
|
Dani Güiza Striker |
2 | 0 |
|
|
Khyril Zambri Midfielder Kedah |
2 | 0 |
|
|
Mahali Jasuli Defender Selangor |
2 | 0 |
|
|
Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin Midfielder Terengganu |
2 | 0 |
