BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
The first leg of the Challenge Cup final between UKM FC and Terengganu FC II on Monday ended all square, with both teams producing an entertaining match despite the torrential rain in Shah Alam. Find out who starred for both sides.
UKM-Terengganu II match highlights
UKM
Haziq Aris - 7/10
The goalkeeper had a good game and perhaps would have kept a clean sheet, if not for a very good and seemingly unintended goal, and his defence's lapse in focus which resulted in them conceding another goal. He was composed dealing with air balls and when gathering fast low shots, even in the wet weather.
Afiq Kasbi - 5/10
The left back did not have a good outing. Their opponents realised early on that Afiq was the weakest link in the UKM defence, and exploited it by concentrating their attack on his flank. Both Terengganu II goals came from deliveries made by players that he was not marking as close as he should have.
Saiful Hasnol Raffi - 6/10
Terengganu II's first goal may have been a fluke, but their second, an equaliser that was scored just a minute after the hosts took the lead, only happened because the UKM defence collectively switched off. Up until the second goal, the centre back has had a decent match.
Waheed Oseni - 6/10
The Nigerian centre back performed splendidly for the Varsity Boys, making sure that Terengganu counter attacks that came his way when his teammates were attacking a little too eagerly up the pitch were dealt with swiftly.
Akmal Zahir - 6/10
The right back did what was asked of him by his coach, no more and no less.
Wan Faiz Sulaiman - 6/10
The left midfielder surely would have wanted to do better in the match, but Terengganu II's right flank was airtight throughout the match. He however contributed to his team's midfield dominance in the second half.
Asnan Ahmad - 7/10
The central midfielder made sure that his side enjoyed long spells of possession in their opponents' half in the second half.
Azri Zulkiflee - 7/10
The midfielder sat lower down the pitch than Asnan, making sure that the defence had an extra man to keep their opponents' forwards out.
Faiz Adnan - 7/10 (Man of the Match)
The right midfielder contributed to his team's midfield dominance in the second half, but he most importantly was involved in both goals; delivering the ball that would be finished by Michael Ijezie for their first goal, and later in the second half forcing the own goal by Sébastien Thurière.
Faiz Adnan. Photo from FMLLP
Fitri Amran - 7/10
The forward had a tough time in the inclement weather and did not combine well with his striking partner, but worked hard throughout the match making himself a nuisance in the Terengganu II danger area.
Michael Ijezie - 7/10
The striker was not his best self on Monday, an understandable situation given the weather, but he was still good enough to bag a goal. Displaying alertness to spot a mistake by Terengganu captain Hasbullah Awang just outside the opposition box, he then nicked the ball away, sprinted towards the goal before slotting the goal between the onrushing goalkeeper's legs, which sounds a lot easier than it actually was. In the second half he showed diligence to drop down to try and win the ball himself, when his midfield was having a hard time getting it to him.
Substitutions:
Irwan Wahab, Muhamad Azmi, Ikqmal Zanil - NA
Late changes who did not alter the outcome of the game.
TERENGGANU II
Shamirza Yusoff - 6/10
The custodian had a decent game, but perhaps could have done more to keep out the two UKM goals in the match.
Hassan Ridzuan - 6/10
The left back did not do much wrong in the match, but he was not outstanding either.
Muhammad Faudzi - 6/10
The centre back did adequately to make sure that the hosts' midfield dominance in the second half did not extend into their danger area.
Hasbullah Awang - 5/10
The veteran centre back had a decent game, but committed a serious error in the first half that resulted in UKM's first goal.
Hafizal Mohamad - 6/10
The right back turned in a decent performance on a night his side's danger area was under constant pressure.
Haidhir Suhaimi - 6/10
UKM's right flank was solid on Monday night, and the Terengganu II left midfielder could not penetrate the hosts' defence from that side.
Zuasyraf Zulkiefle - 7/10
The midfielder could not help his side break UKM's midfield dominance in the second half, but his most outstanding contribution was scoring his team's second goal, a quick equaliser, from a move that he himself began.
Sebastien Thuriere - 5/10
The Haitian midfielder was unable to break the opposition's midfield dominance in the second half, and most glaringly scored an own goal that would give UKM the lead, albeit briefly.
Sharin Sapien - 7/10
The right midfielder had a decent game, but his most outstanding contribution is surely his goal; a strike that sliced the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Fans may argue whether he had actually intended it to go in in such a sensational fashion, but it definitely warrants repeated viewings on social media.
Bruno Suzuki - 6/10
The Japanese-Brazilian forward underperformed in the match, perhaps due to the weather, but unlike his UKM counterpart Ijezie did not compensate for this by working harder.
Akanni Wasiu - 6/10
The Nigerian forward barely made a blip in the match.
Substitutions:
Ridzuan Razali - 7/10
The midfielder came on in the 74th minute for goalscorer Shahrin, and made almost instantaneous impact at a time when his side needed to bounce back quickly. The visitors had just allowed UKM to take the lead minutes earlier, but Ridzuan was in the right position to the side of the UKM box to collect a deflected ball, which he then squared precisely into the ball to be finished by Zuasyraf, for the quick equaliser.
Ahmad Takhiyuddin Roslan - NA
Late change.
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