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| Kelantan players and officials show off their FA Cup trophy to ecstatic fans during a victory parade in Kota Baru yesterday. Pic by Syamsi Suhaimi |
NOTHING TO SHOUT ABOUT: East Coast giants complete major haul with ordinary win in FA Cup final
IN a space of three years, Kelantan have completed the set of major trophies in Malaysian football and coach Bojan Hodak did not mind that they won the FA Cup final against Sime Darby on Saturday the "ugly" way.
By any means of measurement, the final was a poor advert for football as Sime Darby turned up intent on protecting their goal while Kelantan were bereft of ideas to break them down.
It needed a penalty by Mohamed Ghaddar in the 58th minute for Kelantan to emerge with a 1-0 win and prevent the final at the National Stadium from turning into a turgid affair.
If those watching the game unfold on television back home found it unbearable to watch, spare a thought for the media personnel who also had to withstand a barrage of missiles thrown by Kelantan fans into the press box after the goal was scored and again at the final whistle.
There was a bruise or two but no serious injuries as the 90,000 fans, mostly rooting for Kelantan, let loose unbridled enthusiasm.
"This was a difficult game to play. It was an ugly final as most finals can be," said Hodak after helping Kelantan add the FA Cup to their 2010 Malaysia Cup and 2011 Super League collection.
"They put nine players in front of goal, they parked the bus in front of the box. It is not easy when the opposition does that. It is important to play to win. We have played good matches to watch before, this was not nice but effective."
The penalty awarded by referee Suhaizi Shukri might have been ignored by others after Obinna Nwaneri went to easily to ground after an innocuous shove by Fairuz Abdul Aziz.
Kelantan had few chances to add to their lead and had Sime Darby's Razali Umar Kandasamy chose the right option on a three-on-one break, the end may have been different.
Sime Darby's top scorer Patrick Wleh was marked out of the game while Ghaddar, other than his expertly taken spot-kick, did little else.
Kelantan defender S. Subramaniam's night lasted just 34 minutes after suffering a cut above the eye, courtesy of Wleh's elbow.
"I badly wanted to play. I was not having any headaches and could have gone back in. The physio made the decision to take me out and I think it was done in haste. But no matter who played, I'm very happy we won," said Subramaniam, who received four stitches for the cut.
On the whole, Kelantan did what was necessary, as is often required in a final, rather than play to the gallery.
"If we had not scored, I would have been jumping on my feet," said Hodak. "We'd probably go to extra-time and I'd have to make a change.
"I wanted to bring Norfarhan (Muhammad) on but because of tactics and injuries I kept him on the bench. It was a very tactical game, I don't remember they creating any chances. If they did, none were dangerous.
"We had like 10 shots on goal. We came here to win the final and I am happy with 1-0."
Sime Darby, though, can take plenty away from the game after forcing Kelantan to play according to their rhythm. For a club side making their major final debut, they walk away with their heads held high.
By Devinder Singh | devinder@nst.com.my
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