MATCH REPORT: Sarawak FA 1-2 Kelantan FA

The Crocs will have to concentrate their season to other competitions aside from the FA Cup after this after they were knocked out of the competition by the same team which kicked them out of the FA Cup for the past three years.

Kelantan has been a bitter boogeyman to Sarawak’s FA Cup campaign ever since the Crocs starter their resurgences in the local football scene, and the situation seems to be similar this season.

Playing in front of a capacity crowd, the Crocs were stunned as early as the second minute of the game when Erwin capitalized the poor communication at the defenses of Sarawak to put his side ahead.

The Crocs reorganized, but with the referee less interested to wave any cards for the night, many of Kelantan’s hard challenges went unpunished with Kelantan disrupting Sarawak’s counter attacking moves with perfection.

Nonetheless, the Crocs shouldered on gallantly with Shreen Tambi and Ivan Fatic spraying passes to the likes of Bille Mehmet and Ryan Griffith whom were expected to score for the night.

The Crocs hard work finally paid off when Joseph Kallang Tie funded Ryan a wonderful pass, with the Australian on target in the 30th minute, putting the Crocs back level in the game.

After the half time, the Crocs fought their way for the lead and won a free kick just a=outside of the box, but Ivan Fatic shot it high and wide.

Kelantan started to frustrate the Crocs with their more dominant attacking strike force as the likes of Emmanuel Kenmogne and Erwin Carrillo started pushing hard for the winning goal. In the 64th minute, the shouts of “Gomo Klate Gomo”, the battle cry of the visiting team reached its peak after Emmanuel converted a mix-up in front of goal, after Erwin failed to shoot in a penalty.

Eager to defend their unbeaten home record, the home side substituted ineffective Nazri Kamal for Ashri Chuchu and the Crocs pounced forward in search for the equalizer.

Their opportunity finally came when the referee awarded Sarawak a penalty kick in the 77th minute. The best chance for the equalizer however went out in smoke as national goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi, known for his penalty kick saves, dived the correct way to stop the spot kick taken by Ryan.

Kelantan continued to pound the Crocs goal from then on, with the Crocs sneaking in a few fast counter attacks which remained fruitless until the final whistle.

The defeat meant that Sarawak will not be given any more chances to repeat their glorious 1992 triumph in the FA Cup this season.