http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1230888/1/.html
The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes (2-2 on aggregate) following goals by Agu Casmir and Marlon James, and 30 more minutes of extra-time failed to break the deadlock.
ATM got off to a lively start against the LionsXII on Thursday at the Selayang Stadium, coming close to scoring after just three minutes. Winger Christie Jayaseelan failed to convert his shot after the LionsXII defence struggled to clear a cross into the penalty area, and it did not take long till ATM got another chance on goal.
With the LionsXII under immense pressure from the hosts and again struggling to clear crosses into the penalty box, skipper Hairuddin Omar latched on to a tame clearance in the seventh minute and unleashed a powerful shot that flew just wide of Izwan Mahbud's goal.
The LionsXII constantly struggled to deal with Jayaseelan, the pacey winger using his sublime dribbling to cut in from the left to devastating effect.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the time, the visitors took the lead courtesy of a huge dose of luck.
Yasir Hanapi played a ball down the right flank to Shahril who then threaded the ball through to Agu Casmir. The striker was quick to fire off a shot and his effort deflected off the leg of midfielder Aidil Zafuan Razak to dip over a badly positioned Farizal.
The goal only served to fire up ATM who poured forward in search of an equaliser and they almost found it on the stroke of half-time. Aidil soared unmarked during a corner kick but his header flew straight at Izwan.
A minute into added time, it was Aidil again who threatened with his aerial ability.
The cross in from a corner kick spun off the midfielder's shoulder toward goal. Izwan did well to get a touch, only to see the ball hit the upright.
ATM started the second half at a blistering pace and had the LionsXII pinned back for large periods. But again it was the visitors who almost found their second goal of the night.
Hariss Harun made a brave charge towards goal and was upended just outside the penalty area. Shaiful Esah's freekick forced Farizal to dive low to parry and Agu hurt himself stretching for the rebound.
ATM constantly peppered the visitors' goals and were denied a penalty for a challenge on James in the 63rd minute.
The hosts then came closest to scoring in the 74rd minute when Bruno Martelotto stabbed the ball just wide of the post. Just a minute later, James charged into the penalty area only to poke the ball straight at Izwan.
It was almost farcical how the hosts failed to find the net on so many occasions, even with five minutes of added time, and the hapless visitors could only desperately defend.
Sundram's side looked set for a spot in the finals but everything came crashing down in the 96th minute - James soared above an exhausted LionsXII defence to head the ball home as the crowd went hysterical.
The LionsXII were then dealt a major setback when Isa Halim was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the fourth minute of extra time following a careless tackle on Zaquan Adha Razak.
ATM clearly looked hungrier for the win and they dominated both halves of extra time. But again it was their profligacy on display.
James could have sealed the match in the 117th minute but Izwan did brilliantly to deny the striker. The exhausted and beleaguered LionsXII players did barely enough to drag themselves past the finish line in the 120th minute and force a penalty shootout.
Saiful was the first LionsXII player to miss and it required an astonishingly composed Izwan to convert their fifth penalty and tie the score at 4-4.
ATM's A Varantan and LionsXII's Baihakki Khaizan then missed the first shots of sudden death penalties. Sundram's dream of winning his first Malaysia Cup trophy as a coach then ended after Hanapi's effort hit the upright.
No comments:
Post a Comment