TERENGGANU 0
KELANTAN 0
An opening day derby between traditional rivals Terengganu and Kelantan is a rare event. If last night match is to be used as a yardstick then both sets of fans should be looking forward to an exciting season supporting their respective teams.
Terengganu Head Coach, Irfan Bakti started the match with five new signings in his line-up. Skipper Marzuki Yusof has a new partner in Ronny Harun while Helmi Remeli slotted in at right back, a move that saw Mohaimin moving to the left back spot. Tengku Hasbullah added more mobility in midfield with K Rajan playing on the flanks. Sarawakian Joseph Kallang Tie was partnered with international Abdul Manaf Mamat up front.
However it was big spending Kelantan who started as favourites with their star studded line up. With 2009 Malaysian Cup winner Hairuddin Omar partnering former international Akmal Rizal Rakhli in their forward line and Indra Putra Mahyuddin supplying the ball, their fans should be forgiven for thinking the three points would be just a mere formality.
As always in derby matches there were tension in the air with the match being the first match of the season everybody would like to avoid from making mistakes. For the first quarter of an hour it seemed the visitors would run away with the match. Terengganu goalkeeper Sharbini Allawee was the busier of the two goalkeepers on the pitch but in sync with the current form he is experiencing he kept out everything Kelantan thrown at him.
Marzuki also was having a good start with him winning almost all challenges, either in the air or on the ground. Another player worth a mention was Helmi who kept Indra Putra in check throughout the match.
Terengganu played with an improved mobility though the new players seemed to need a few more matches together to form a good unit. Veteran midfielder Zairo Anwar Zalani had a number of freekicks and almost all of them were on target but did not pose much threat to debutant goalkeeper Syed Adney between the sticks for Kelantan.
The match really came alive in the last five minutes when on a rare occassion Helmi was beaten on the right side, Indra Putra broke through and his cutback found an unmarked Hairuddin Omar just ten metres from the goal. The former Terengganu and T-Team striker who has the habit of scoring against his former team should continue the record but his shot lacked conviction and Sharbini saved Terengganu again.
Then three minutes from time another debut player for Kelantan, S Chanturu rocked the Terengganu crossbar with a stiff shot with Sharbini well beaten. Hairuddin put the rebound wide. The best chance for Terengganu came in the 90th minute through a quick counter attack. Ashaari Shamsuddin received a long ball and flicked it to Manaf who went one on one with Syed Adney.
Terengganu fans hold their breath but much to their disappointment the goalkeeper managed to get enough touch on the ball to push it away to safety.
In the end it was a fair result for both teams.
