Crocs extend winning streak at home

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SANDWICH: Mohd Azizan Baba (centre) is challenged by Melaka’s Amrie Abdullah (left) and Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee during their FA Cup match at the State Stadium last night. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: Sarawak continued its winning streak at home after defeating Melaka 3 – 0 in their opening FA Cup match held at State Stadium, Petra Jaya last night.

It may be their first taste of victory in the knock out tourney but the convincing win was courtesy of the Crocs’ reigning top scorer Bobby Gonzales who scored two goals in the 77th minute and 86th with substitute striker, Mohamad Azizan Baba sealing the visitors doom with the goal scored a minute before the final whistle.

Bobby stamped his mark as the worthy top marksman for Sarawak with the total six goals he scored in the past fi ve Premier League matches and last night FA Cup curtain raiser.

The Crocs’ defence also deserves similar credit with their solid per formance in keeping the opposite forward close at bay and leaving no room for them to easily tuck the ball home.

But the homesters’ unbeaten run at home this time round was at the expense of their chief striker Ivan Babic who had to be stretchered out for the pitch for an injury.

The on pitch drama was however witnessed by his visiting parents who fl ew in town all the way from Croatia recently.

The Crocs will meet Penang’s PBAPP FC next in the second round but the cruncher will be their quarterfinal opponents who may either be Malaysia Cup defending champion, Kelantan or the reigning AFF Suzuki Cup champions, Singapore Lions.

The Crocs chief coach, Robert Alberts disclosed their next FA Cup match will be on Feb 26 after the festive holidays and the coming short break is much welcomed for the team to assess its casualty list who now include Babic, the second top scorer.

It will be another fairytale dream came true if the Crocs were to bury the ghosts of the past and carry on fi ghting for a stake as one of the leading contenders in the FA Cup which they last won two decades ago.

The unbeaten run at home had sent the local fans screaming for more victories to come and to bolster their confidence of a fine finishing in hand for the rampaging Crocs’ do or die mission of going back to the top fl ight Super League next season.

 

FA CUP RESULTS – Friday

SARAWAK 3 – 0 Melaka

SPA FC 1 – 3 Terengganu

KL FA 0 – 5 Pos Malaysia

Johor 2 – 3 Pahang

PBAPP FC 5 – 1 Preah Khan Reach

T-Team 3 – 2 Perlis

PDRM 1 – 2 Penang

PKNS FC 1 – 0 S’pore LIONS

Sabah 2 – 1 Felda United

Shahzan Muda 0 – 2 ATM

UiTM FC 0 – 2 Negeri Sembilan

Johor Darul Takzim 1 – 0 Perak

Kedah 3 – 0 Betaria FC