Clash of the titans
2 wins in 2 matches. That is the record that both these teams had recorded. Penang entertaining the star studed Pahang visit to Stadium Batu Kawan tonight will surely be the match to watch. Do Pahang have what it takes to retain the Super Leagu title that the won last season? Or is Norizan Bakar's newly assemble squad with the inclusion of the first ever Japanese to play on Malaysian soil, Ito Dan can succumb Pahang to their first defeat of the season? 90 minutes of football will give us the asnwer tonight.
With 6.5 mil ringgit to their dispossal this season, Zainal Abidin Hassan has add more strenght to the already highly talented team. Blessed with service from stars like Hairuddin Omar, Indra Putra Mahiyuddin, Rosdi Talib, Fadzli Shaari, all national team regulars, Zainal has added Norhafiz Zamani Misbah in the all conquering equation. Pahang failed to score an unprecendeted treble last season due to failure to overcome Terenganu in FA Cup semi final, and Perlis in Malaysia Cup semi final. Defending woes was what contribute to that failure. Not taking any chances, Zainal roped in the service of one of the best center backs that Malaysia has ever produce.
Moving from Negeri Sembilan to the star studded Pahang, Norhafiz had proved time and time again, while donning the national colour, how good he is as a center back. He can read the gameplan very well, very good anticipation, and at times he will support the attack with mesmerizing dribbling skills. Much helped by the fact he started off his carrer as a striker.
Indra Purtra...3 goals already to his credit
While Indra Putra showed in the last two matches that is was a mistake for Bertalan to leave him behind for the tiger cup by scoring 3 goals in 2 matches. Including a brace last Tuesday while defeating Sabah. The winner of golden boot of last season with 15 goals really want to proove that the 15 goals he scored last season was no fluke. Partnered with Hairuddin Omar who is now injury free (groin injury kept him out of last season), assisted by the talented Fadzli Shaari on the flanks, these team do have all the ingredients not only to win all the cup this season, but also to make a serius challenge to the AFC Champions League.
As of Penang, they were the suprise package this season. Sitting atop of the table recording 100% record with convincing win against Sabah (3-0), and Telekom Melaka (1-0), bringing in the Malaysia Cup winner coach was the right thing to do. As of the last two matches, Norizan Bakar have proved he still has the touch of Midas which turned Perlis to a cup winning team last season. Perlis' success was much thanked to the service of the midfield general, Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan. Following the footsteps of his coach, Tengku made a surprise decision to move to another northern outfit much to the dismay of Perlis' fans.
Ito Dan...what does Zainal have in store to keep him at bay?
Last season both Barretto and Vietchaslav Melenikov performed well to keep Penang in the Super League only to see them falter in the q-final of Malaysia cup, succumbed to the prowess of Sabah. A new addition to the already fearsome duo and turned it to a trio is Ito Dan. Scoring on his debut against Sabah and started the move that saw Melenikov, "the russian torperdo" head in the ball had shown what he is able to do to make sure that Penang is in the hunt of the elusive league title.
Battle of the wits, top of the table clash. Though it is still too early to concluce anything based on tonight's result but the winner of the match will break free from chasing pack. Pahang wants to prove that they are still the team to beat against Penang the new sherrif in town. Stadium Batu Kawan will bear witness to the clash of the titans!
match prediction: Penang 2 - Pahang 2
With 6.5 mil ringgit to their dispossal this season, Zainal Abidin Hassan has add more strenght to the already highly talented team. Blessed with service from stars like Hairuddin Omar, Indra Putra Mahiyuddin, Rosdi Talib, Fadzli Shaari, all national team regulars, Zainal has added Norhafiz Zamani Misbah in the all conquering equation. Pahang failed to score an unprecendeted treble last season due to failure to overcome Terenganu in FA Cup semi final, and Perlis in Malaysia Cup semi final. Defending woes was what contribute to that failure. Not taking any chances, Zainal roped in the service of one of the best center backs that Malaysia has ever produce.
Moving from Negeri Sembilan to the star studded Pahang, Norhafiz had proved time and time again, while donning the national colour, how good he is as a center back. He can read the gameplan very well, very good anticipation, and at times he will support the attack with mesmerizing dribbling skills. Much helped by the fact he started off his carrer as a striker.
Indra Purtra...3 goals already to his credit
While Indra Putra showed in the last two matches that is was a mistake for Bertalan to leave him behind for the tiger cup by scoring 3 goals in 2 matches. Including a brace last Tuesday while defeating Sabah. The winner of golden boot of last season with 15 goals really want to proove that the 15 goals he scored last season was no fluke. Partnered with Hairuddin Omar who is now injury free (groin injury kept him out of last season), assisted by the talented Fadzli Shaari on the flanks, these team do have all the ingredients not only to win all the cup this season, but also to make a serius challenge to the AFC Champions League.
As of Penang, they were the suprise package this season. Sitting atop of the table recording 100% record with convincing win against Sabah (3-0), and Telekom Melaka (1-0), bringing in the Malaysia Cup winner coach was the right thing to do. As of the last two matches, Norizan Bakar have proved he still has the touch of Midas which turned Perlis to a cup winning team last season. Perlis' success was much thanked to the service of the midfield general, Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan. Following the footsteps of his coach, Tengku made a surprise decision to move to another northern outfit much to the dismay of Perlis' fans.
Ito Dan...what does Zainal have in store to keep him at bay?
Last season both Barretto and Vietchaslav Melenikov performed well to keep Penang in the Super League only to see them falter in the q-final of Malaysia cup, succumbed to the prowess of Sabah. A new addition to the already fearsome duo and turned it to a trio is Ito Dan. Scoring on his debut against Sabah and started the move that saw Melenikov, "the russian torperdo" head in the ball had shown what he is able to do to make sure that Penang is in the hunt of the elusive league title.
Battle of the wits, top of the table clash. Though it is still too early to concluce anything based on tonight's result but the winner of the match will break free from chasing pack. Pahang wants to prove that they are still the team to beat against Penang the new sherrif in town. Stadium Batu Kawan will bear witness to the clash of the titans!
match prediction: Penang 2 - Pahang 2
posted by zulhardy at
9:18 AM
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