Indra stunner brushed ATM aside as Kelantan clinched the magnificent treble

Photo Courtesy  www.duniasukan.com

      Before this prestige final, Kelantan were left sweat after their most on-form striker, Muhammad Ghaddar and winger Nor Farhan Muhammad are suspended after receiving more than two yellow cards they collected in a heated clashed against Selangor in the semi-final though managed to win 2-0 in the end. While ATM will play without Irwan Fadhli Idrus, defender and former Negri Sembilan player with similar suspension. Kelantan field-up almost similar players who played frequently in Malaysia Cup, with Afiq Azmi, striker on-loan from Kuala Lumpur replaced Ghaddar and Nurul Azwan Roya filled Farhan's position as a starter in the final while ATM made young midfielder K. Reuben as a make-shift full-back and no other change in position. Kelantan reasonably strong in the first half as well as ATM with both side trying to take an early lead but finishing is poor throughout until Kelantan out-of-form striker Nor Shahrul Idlan Talaha broke the deadlock, slotted an easy finish passed ATM's goalkeeper Farizal Husin in the 44th minutes certainly cheered 60 thousands Kelantan fans before half-time.
   
    ATM were given a breathe in the second half when S. Subramaniam picked up an injury and could not continued. They did not take long to equalise after Rezal Zambery Yahya strike a screamer in the 49th minutes from the rebound  ball which took off a deflection and went in. But only a minute later, Kelantan striker Nor Shahrul again popped up with a delighful individual effort, after dribbled from the left side of the pitch and took a shot with an incisive finish in the 50th minutes. With Kelantan seemingly still enjoying their goal, ATM doubled their efforts and their resilient pay off after ATM's current top scorer, Marlon Alex James scored a simple header through Zaquan Adha's free-kick in the 62th minute. Kelantan, a clear favourites for this final, and with highly likely to score and win the match within 90 minute, surprisingly failed  to do so and made it tougher to win when they have to play for another 30 minutes of the match to decides the winner.

     As early as the match of extra time started, legendary Indra Putra Mahayuddin suddenly pulled off one of the greatest stunner in the final after he flung the ball from Kelantan captain Badri Radzi fly passed ATM goalkeeper Farizal Husin to the top left of the net. ATM trying their best to find an equaliser, at least to drag the match into penalty shoot-out, but Kelantan managed to content the pressure from ATM and subsequently sealed Malaysia Cup title for a second time in three years. But to Kelantan, their proudest achievement will have to be completing the treble for the first time, having previously won the Malaysia Super League and F.A. Cup earlier in the season and reached to quarter-final AFC Cup. ATM, though their dream of winning a historic double for a Premier League champion is crushed by Kelantan, when they made it to the final is already an incredible achievement given that they only compete in the second tier of Malaysian football.Their challenge will be much more bigger for the next season and need to be stronger as they will compete in a Malaysian top-flight league, the Super League. As for Kelantan, their treble will be savour by fans for some time to come.