Surprising turnaround by Kelantan Red Warriors

Kuala Lumpur: Kelantan Red Warriors (KRW) can breathe a sigh of relief after a surprising 0-0 draw with Kuching City in their FA Cup round of 16 match. Just four days prior, KRW had suffered a devastating 5-0 defeat against the same opponents. In a closely contested first leg at Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium, KRW demonstrated improved defensive discipline, preventing a rout that had initially been feared.

Coach Irfan Bakti made nine substitutions, with only Ramadhan Saifullah and Filemon Anyie remaining in the starting lineup. Kuching, meanwhile, saw new faces in the team, with Ramadhan and Filemon being the only players to retain their positions. The match saw Kuching dominate the first half and control possession, yet Kelantan posed a constant threat through quick counter-attacks.

In an effort to boost their attacking efforts, Aidil Shahrin introduced players such as Jerome Etame. Despite these changes, Kuching failed to secure a decisive win. The decisive match is scheduled for September 8 in Kuching.