PDRM a revelation in Malaysia Cup

1. After round 1 of preliminary Malaysia Cup group matches last night, PDRM has demonstrated its fairytale run by winning all the three matches in Group D. Obtaining nine maximum points, it also has the highest positive goal difference (+8 goals) among all the top teams in all the four groups.

2. Another newly promoted club to the top flight next season, Felda United, also top the Table in Group A, ahead of Pahang with seven points and a +2 goal difference.

Courtesy: Mingguan Malaysia

3. Three East Coast teams - defending champions Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan - occupy second spots in Group A, B and C respectively with six points each. However Pahang and Kelantan are better off in terms of goal difference. Both have +4 goal difference while Terengganu only manage +1 goal difference. The latter is just below Perak which has the same six points in Group B but Perak have a better, +2 goal difference.

3.   Apart from PDRM and Felda United, Perak can be considered as a surprise table topper, with two fine wins at home. Start-studded MSL champions JDT, as expected, occupy the top spot in Group C with 7 points and +3 goal difference.

4. Premier-League bound T-Team is the remaining East Coast team in the competition. Currently it is at the third spot in Group D with three points and -3 goal difference. Under new coach Anuar Abu Bakar, the Kuala Terengganu-based club side is considered to be a "good team" by Mehmet Durakovic, the Selangor coach after his side won 2-1 away. Using that as a yardstick, we can also consider other teams with three points (JDT II and Kedah) to be good teams in their respective groups.

5. Even so for the rest of challenge, to advance further, good teams need to become great in the time that is available to them. This applies not just in any single match, home or away, but also over the stretch of the rest of the second round matches, which will begin next Wednesday.

6. A fine example of such a great team is Selangor which is rich in Malaysia Cup victory traditions. In their first match againts T-Team away, it was T-Team which went ahead. However they maintained their composure and quickly drew level before edging T-Team 2-1 in Anuar's first assignment as T-Team head coach. Subsequently 10-men Selangor was humbled 0-2 by PDRM after captain Bunyamin Omar was red-carded. However last night the Red Giants showed its mettle as a great team by winning 2-0 over Sime Darby.

7. Last night Perak head coach Devaldo Alves said his team was targetting a draw against Terengganu away. However he also spoke of the effects of travelling and having so many matches in a short space of time.  He added, " It is all about recovery." Terengganu head coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim quips, "Having the right mentality and mental strength is very important for the subsequent matches."

8. Terengganu is taking a risk by putting their faith in the local strikeforce in the Malaysia-Cup challenge thus far. For the return match against Perak in Ipoh, he is keeping his options open as to whether or not to field their import strikers.