NST, Wednesday 20, 2009
KEDAH advanced to the knock-out stage of the AFC Cup for the second straight year despite going down 3-1 to Thailand's Chonburi at the Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok yesterday.
The Malaysian treble champions kicked off secure in the knowledge that they needed only to avoid a heavy defeat after their rivals for second spot in Group G, Hong Kong's Eastern Athletic, crashed 3-0 at Hanoi ACB in an early start.
Chonburi finished top of the group on 16 points, nine ahead of Kedah and Eastern but the Malaysians took second place and a spot in the round of 16 with a superior goal difference of eight. Hanoi ended fourth on six points.
Pipob On-mo scored twice for Chonburi (14th, 40th minute) either side of Khyril Muhymeen Zambri's 35th-minute equaliser. Brazilian Douglas completed the scoring five minutes before full-time.
The second round will be played over one match with Kedah having to travel to Group H winners Becamex Binh Duong of Vietnam.
An under-strength Johor FC meanwhile ended their debut in the AFC Cup by finishing bottom of Group F with a solitary point from six matches after a 1-0 defeat to PSMS Medan at the JCorp Stadium in Pasir Gudang.
Mitchell Leanardo's 66th minute strike was all that separated the sides as Johor FC coach Ramlan Rashid took the opportunity to blood youngsters Zurindra Shah Putra Adam and Syafuan Ridwan while goalkeeper G. Jeevanantham, defender Azuwad Arip, midfielder M. Sivakumar and forward Fahruzzahar Ali were handed rare starts.
Reflecting the inconsequential nature of the match, Medan, who have already qualified, brought only a 13-man squad for the final group match.
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