Football
Nicolas Anil 7y

Selangor aim to repeat Malaysia Cup glory, Kedah wary of Safuwan's PDRM

Domestic Cup action returns to Malaysia after the national team emerged unscathed from international friendlies against Singapore and Afghanistan the past week.

The Malaysia Cup will determine it's final contenders for the 90th edition of the trophy, after the conclusion of the semifinal second leg games on Saturday.

Kedah and Selangor are away to PDRM FA and T-Team respectively with slender 2-1 advantages, so a night of goals and entertainment is on the cards.

Here are three thoughts ahead of the both contests.

1. Canaries singing a consistent tune

Kedah's Malaysia Cup run, is not a fluke by any means. Steered by the steady footballing brains of homebred tactician Tan Cheng Hoe, the green and yellow unit are a prime example of a professional relationship between a team and management.

Tan has free reins to run his team, which he executes in a debonair and honest manner. In turn, the soft-spoken chief gets the best from his young side that play with flair and fire in their belly.

In addition to an FA Cup semifinal berth, the northern side have also sealed third spot in the league this season. Now they are on course to emulate last season's run to the final.

PDRM will have to play out of their skins to upset the odds against this state side that look unstoppable at the moment.

2. Returning the good times to Terengganu

T-Team may be trailing Selangor, but that scoreline will not be felt when the first whistle goes at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium. Fans of the state side will pour their support towards this sister team, which has outperformed and outshone their Terengganu counterparts, despite an inferior financial backing.

Rahmad Darmawan was already looking forward to this encounter after the first leg defeat on Oct. 1, adamant his charges will go for Selangor's throat from the first minute.

With their engine room dynamo Dilshod Sharofetdinov returning to inject power and penetration, K. Gunalan's men will be put under intense pressure.

Selangor have equal desire to win this trophy for the 34th time. They need a silverware this season to pacify their disgruntled fans who are demanding privatisation and a management shakeup. But defending their title will be a test of their mettle, against T-Team who have overcome all odds to reach this far.

3. History in the making for club sides

An ideal final would be Selangor versus Kedah, a repeat of last season's showcase. But should T-Team and PDRM FA overturn their deficit, they will create history as the first two club sides to compete in the Malaysia Cup final.

Previous years, dating back to the inaugural edition in 1921 have always been dominated by the country's state teams and Singapore, who won it 24 times.

In fact, only three club sides have made the final, with MPPJ FC becoming the first to win in 2003, while ATM FC and Johor Darul Ta'zim were bridesmaids in 2012 and 2014.

An all-club final would be indication of a shift in balance in the domestic football scene, something Kedah and Selangor would want to halt at all cost.

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