# No Malaysia Cup for Penang after defeat to Felda United
# JDT ride on a brace by Lucero to whip Pahang 3-0
# Sarawak stun Perak 3-2 in Kuching to make the Malaysia Cup
# Selangor struggle to a scoreless draw against 10-man Kelantan
# Kedah defeat Police 2-0 in Alor Setar
By Rizal Abdullah
Sarawak won against Perak in Kuching and it was tears for Penang who will not see any action in the Malaysia Cup after their 2-1 defeat to Felda United at the City Stadium in their last Super League first round fixtures on Wednesday.
Penang’s defeat means the Panthers finished at the bottom of the 12-team league with only six points. The new Malaysia Cup rules this year will see the bottom placed team in the Super League at the half-way mark not getting a place in the competition.
The 11 teams in the Super League and the top five in the lower-tier Premier League at the half-way stage will compete for the prestigious silverware.The five teams from the Premier League are Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, JDT II and PKNS FC.
After Wednesday’s matches Felda United remained at the top of the Super League after the win over Penang. Goals by their Liberian international Francis Forkey Doe in the 31st and 60th minutes were enough for Irfan Bakti’s team while Penang’s got their consolation goal in the last minute from a penalty by Reinaldo Lobo.
At the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru newly crowned FA Cup champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) woke up in the second half for a 3-0 win over Pahang. Two goals by Argentine hit-man Juan Martin Lucero (61st and 64th) after Amirulhadi Zainal opened scoring in the 54th minute were enough to give the Southern Tigers their eighth win in 11 matches.
Felda United and JDT have 24 points each but are separated by goal difference with Selangor third on 19 points.
Despite the defeat Pahang earned a spot in the Malaysia Cup with nine points – the same as Sarawak, 3-2 winners over Perak at the State Stadium in Kuching.
Australian Ndumba Makeche (10th) and two headed goals by Brazilian Gilmar Da Silva (48th and 80th) did the damage. Perak scorers were Fazrul Hazli (25th) and Elias Fernandes (70th, penalty).
Selangor failed to shine at the Shah Alam Stadium in their scoreless draw against Kelantan. This is despite Kelantan playing with 10 players from the 26th minute onwards after Wan Zack Haikal was given a direct red card for elbowing Selangor’s R. Gopinathan.
There was also stalemate at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu as T-Team and Terengganu battled to a scoreless draw.
Carlos Kahe powered Kedah to a 2-0 win over Police at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar with the first coming in the first minute.
SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS (May 18)
Selangor 0 Kelantan 0
Terengganu 0 T-Team 0
Penang 1 Felda United 2
Sarawak 3 Perak 2
JDT 3 Pahang 0
Kedah 2 Police 0
