Football: Hat-trick for Kedah

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a night to remember for Kedah as they completed their treble dream by thumping 10-man Perak 3-0 in the Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.

A two-goal blitz in two minutes by Mohd Khyril Muhymeen and Marlon James in the 25th and 27th minutes gave the Canaries a comfortable lead in the first half. James was on target again nine minutes from time to complete the rout and a historic night for Kedah.

Earlier this season, Kedah had won the Super League and FA Cup crowns and last night's victory only confirmed that the young Kedah side, coached by Azraai Khor Abdullah, are the most outstanding team in Malaysian football.

Perak again have to settle for the bridesmaid role to Kedah. In the race for the Super League title, they were pip on the home stretch by their northern neighbours.

Last night Kedah, playing like men possessed, started off aggressively and could have opened the scoring as early as the 15th minute through James.

The shaven-headed striker from St Vincent and Grenadines was put through by Hasmawi Hassan but his feeble attempt was easily fielded by Perak goalkeeper Mohd Nasril Nourdin. But Kedah quickly took control of the match in a two-minute spell from the 25th minute.

Skipper Victor Andrag, voted Man-of-the-Match, threaded a long pass which James flicked on for Khyril to beat his marker Ahmad Alzan Ismail and Nasril with a left-footed shot.

Two minutes later, James extended the advantage, hitting a half-volley past the rooted Nasril.
Perak lost their two main strikers when Khalid Jamlus limped out in the 30th minute and Guinean Keita Mandjou was substituted 10 minutes before the breather.

K. Ganesan replaced Khalid while R. Surendran came in for Mandjou but both were ineffective.
Perak then fell deeper into trouble when their skipper Ahmad Shahrul Azhar was sent off just a minute before half-time.

The writing was on the wall for the temperamental Ahmad Shahrul after picking his first yellow card for a late challenge on Khyril early in the match.

He only had himself to blame when referee C. Ravidran showed him the second yellow for a robust tackle from behind on Kedah defender Nelson Martin just before the break.
Kedah were content to soak up the pressure in the second half as Perak tried in vain to get back into the match.

The Perak players found their final passes wanting against a stout Kedah defence marshalled by the solid Cornelius Hugging and Victor.

It was all over for Perak when James netted his second goal of the night. In a one-on-one duel James easily beat Nasril with a powerful grounder to make it 3-0 and ironically completed the grand treble for Kedah .

KEDAH: Mohd Helmi Eliza, Victor Andrag, K. Soley (Sabri Abu), Shafizan Hashim, Cornelius Hugging, Nelson Martin (Mohd Bunyamin Omar), Mohd Khyril Muhymeen (Saramsak Khan), V. Thirumurugan, Ahmad Fauzi Shaari, Hasmawi Hassan, Marlon Alex James.

PERAK: Mohd Nasril Nourdin, K. Nanthakumar, Vedran Kukoc, Ahmad Azlan Zainal (S. Subramaniam), Chan Wing Hong, Ahmad Shahrul Azhar, Yusri Che Lah, Shahrulnizam Mustafa, Danial Fadly, Keita Mandjou (R. Surendran), Khalid Jamlus (K. Ganesan).