MM back in the hunt (The Malay Mail)

KUALA LUMPUR MALAY MAIL bounced back in the running for a semifinal berth
in the FAM Cup after snapping Kedah PKNK's three-match unbeaten record
with a 2-1 win in Alor Star last Monday.
 And with Negri Sembilan BSN's shock 4-2 defeat by Kelantan JKR at home,
Group B has  been thrown wide open in the tussle for a semifinal berth.
 Coupled with a pending decision by the FA of Malaysia competitions
committee on PKNK fielding a player who had turned out for Police this
season in the M-League's Premier Two competition, further changes are on
the cards.
 Competition rules state that players can only turn out for one team at
national level in a season.
 PKNK were said to have fielded the said player in the opening match
against Malay Mail and the FA of Malaysia are expected to announce their
decision on the matter soon.
 In that match, PKNK held Malay Mail to a 0-0 draw at the KLFA Stadium.
 For Malay Mail, their saviour last Monday was last season's KL M-League
midfielder S. Saravanan who scored both goals in the first half.
 Saravanan certainly lifted the spirits of his teammates because they had
problems finding the net in their last three matches.
 On the other hand, BSN - who were supposed to have been the main
contenders for a semifinal berth - seem to have suddenly lost steam.
 Even coach Param Sivam could not explain his team's sudden drop in form.
 Their loss to Kelantan JKR was their second straight defeat after having
earlier been beaten by Kedah PKNK.
 While BSN's drop in form is a surprise, Kelantan JKR have emerged as
surprise contenders for a semifinal spot from Group B.
 In Group A, Malacca Telekom suffered a shock defeat at the hands of
Kelantan TNB, losing 2-1 in Kota Baru. However,  this is not expected to
affect their chances for a semifinal berth as they have already collected
nine points from three consecutive wins.
 Issac Kuffor, Telekom's ace striker from Ghana, continued his scoring
ways when he netted a goal to bring his personal tally to 18 goals in 17
matches.
 The win has boosted TNB's confidence to secure a semifinal berth.
 But they will face a tough challenge from Terengganu Perkasa Alam, who
are also going great guns with just a loss to Telekom.
 Sabah's Gunosukod Pangaits, in a turnaround performance from their good
run in the first round, have yet to win any of their last four matches.
 Their problem started with the explusion of their three foreign players
and the team have never been the same since.
 The fight for a semifinal berth from this group is definitely among
Telekom, Perkasa Alam and TNB.
 The competition takes a break for the Commonwealth Games and will resume
on Oct 5.

RESULTS
GROUP A
Kelantan TNB  2  M'cca Telekom  2
T'ggu P Alam  3  Sabah G'kod    0
GROUP B
Kedah PKNK    1  KL Malay Mail  2
NS BSN        2 Kelantan JKR    4
                           (END)