Malaysia Cup: Zainal determined to bring team to the finals

MELAKA, Nov 19  --  Melaka United FC coach Zainal Abidin Hassan is determined to take his team forward and create history in the Malaysia Cup after beating Sabah FC 2-1 in the second quarter-final at the Hang Jebat Stadium here last night.

Regarding the team’s success a place to the semi-finals with an aggregate of 3-1 after a period of 38 years as very meaningful, he did not want it to go to the team’s head due to time constraint in planning their strategy to face Kuala Lumpur on Nov 22.

"Alhamdulillah, generally, the players maintained their  momentum and were disciplined from the start to the end of the match, only that there were many opportunities missed and that’s where they need to improve the pattern of the game because in this round, goals are very important," he told reporters after the match here last night.

Some 7,000 spectators watched the match last night, where the host team did not wait long to rip Sabah's goal  through Adriano Narcizo  in  the 3rd minute when goalkeeper Rozaimie Rohim failed to save the ball. The result remained until the end of the first half.

The “Sang Kancil” squad continued to widen the goal gap through import player Haitian Sony Norde in the 77th minute and as the game came to an end, Sabah were awarded a penalty kick that was easily completed by Risto Mitrevski in extra time.

Meanwhile, Sabah coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said Melaka's early goal ruined his team's plans to win in the rematch.

"However, I am satisfied with the performance of the players, especially the young Sabah players in the Malaysia Cup, as they gainedexperience and I believe that next year they will become more mature and then we will be able to change the script," he added.

-- BERNAMA