Ryan Griffiths vies for the ball with a Kedah player during their Group B match at the Stadium Negeri last night. — Photo by Matthew Umpang
KUCHING: Sarawak suffered a heartbreaking loss in their Malaysia Cup campaign against Kedah in a Group B match at Stadium Negeri last night.
The Crocs fielded Joseph Kallang and Griffiths for attack, Mohd Lot Abu Hassan and Junior Eldstal in the midfield, and S Chanturu and Rashid Aya on the flanks.
The back four were Ramesh Lai, Gabor Gyepes, Ronny Harun and Hairyl Mokhtar. Sani Anuar Kamsani was goalkeeper for the match.
Kedah pressed the home team from the start.
The visitors drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Muhd Farhan beat Sarawak’s offside trap.
Stunned by the goal, the Crocs responded but squandered a chance to equalise when Gyepes’ shot went wide a few minutes later. Three minutes after the breather, Sarawak finally equalised through Ryan Griffiths after connecting a cross from Chanturu.
Both teams came close to scoring, Kedah in the 53rd min and Sarawak through Joseph Kallang in the 61st.
Former Kedah striker Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli came in for Rashid in the 67th min.
It was an emotional moment for the striker as he was facing his hometown team for the first time this year.
Sarawak wasted another chance to take the lead after Eldstal failed to connect a fine pass in front of the goal mouth.
Former Sarawak goalkeeper Saiful Amar Sudar made a few crucial saves for Kedah.
Billy Osman Mehmet sealed the game for Kedah in the very last minute, scoring a free kick from the edge of the penalty box.
The score remained 2-1 until the final whistle.