Zainal Abidin delighted Pahang FA Cup champion

SHAH ALAM: Pahang coach Zainal Abidin Hassan was a picture of delight following his boys clinching the FA Cup for the second time in this season’s final at the Shah Alam Stadium here tonight.

Pahang ended an eight year wait to win the FA Cup for the second time after edging Felda United FC (FUFC) 2-1 in the final.

The Elephants’ Nigerian import, Dickson Nwakaeme was the hero for Pahang when his goal in the 88th minute gave them victory after both teams were tied at 1-1.

Pahang who are also Malaysia Cup defending champions won their maiden FA Cup title in 2006 after defeating Perlis 4-2 in a penalty shootout when 120 minutes of play in the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur ended in a 0-0 draw.

Zainal Abidin admitted The Elephants were slow to “warm up” despite the score at 0-1 in the first 30 minutes.

“My players long passes were cut off by Felda United so much so they were the first to take the lead,” he told the post-match press conference. On resumption, both teams went all out but luck was on Pahang’s side when their substitute player Mohd Faizol Hussein fired a piledriver that sailed in to the top left corner of the FUFC net, causing rapturous appreciation from 50,000 supporters who had come to cheer the team.

Zainal Abidin said this showed the never-say-die attitude of the players who worked well as a team.

“Both teamS displayed a splendid performance and I must say Felda United are worthy to play in the Super League next season,” he added.

Meanwhile, ‘The Fighters’ coach , Irfan Bakti Abu Salim said some of his players made characteristic mistakes in the second house which gave room for Pahang to score two goals.

“I am dissapointed these avoidable mistakes cost us the trophy which we had yearned to win and become the first club side to be FA Cup champions,” he said.

However, he said he was pleased with their overall ball control during the match. — Bernama