NST Online: Sports

Football / Malaysia Cup: Cool Negri show who's the boss

Posted: 22 Oct 2011 12:16 PM PDT

2011/10/23
By Ajitpal Singh
ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

NEGRI Sembilan advanced to their third consecutive Malaysia Cup final 6-3 on aggregate over T-Team following a 2-1 victory in an ill-tempered return leg match in Paroi yesterday.

Negri, who were without Abdul Halim Zainal and Idris Karim, were more organised compared with T-Team, who had two players sent-off by referee Nagor Amir Noor Mohamad for rough play.

Negri FA president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan was delighted with his team's performance yesterday.

"My players kept their focus and played very good football to earn this victory. They showed commitment today (yesterday)," said Mohamad.

The homesters dominated play in the first half and even had the ball in the back of the net but Hairuddin Omar was ruled offside in the 17th minute.

T-Team, who were without suspended talisman Indra Putra Mahayuddin, had decent chances but most of their attempts were off-target.

In the second half, T-Team centre back Nor Fazly Alias received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on striker Firdaus Azizul in the 57th minute.

But it was the persistent T-Team side, who took the lead through Fitri Omar's grounder past Negri keeper Farizal Harun in the 72nd minute.

The lead, however, lasted for only three minutes as Negri hit back when midfielder Shahurain Abu Samah played a one-two with defender Qhairul Anwar Roslani before scoring the equaliser.

Negri captain Shukor Adan scored the winner with a header, off a perfect cross from national player S. Kunanlan, five minutes from time.

The match, however, turned ugly as Negri's time-wasting tactics agitated T-Team, who resorted to rough play.

Shukor and T-Team's Haris Safwan had a personal spat going which subsequently led to the sending off of the latter in injury time.

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Formula One: Insatiable Vettel sets sights higher

Posted: 22 Oct 2011 12:04 PM PDT

Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel gestures during a visit to his team's Red Bull Racing headquarters in Milton Keynes, England on Wednesday. — AP picture

LONDON: Sebastian Vettel has hinted that he is likely to stay at Red Bull for a few more years and will try to turn their two years of success into an era of Formula One glory.

Vettel was acclaimed by the staff at Milton Keynes when he went to the Red Bull factory for a celebration day on Wednesday -- and supported his boss Christian Horner's ambitions for more wins and titles in the future.

The 24-year-old German won last weekend's Korean Grand Prix to clinch the team's retention of the constructors' championship just a weekend after he had finished third in Japan to become the youngest back-to-back double champion in F1 history.

"I think it has been an extremely successful year -- again." he said. "It is just incredible what we have achieved.

"It is the small things, like coming home and opening the door, which make you realise what happened, and that all the hours have paid off.

"The season is not yet over though -- we have three more races to go and the chance to prove ourselves again..

"As for me, I'm very happy where I am. I think we have achieved a lot together in the last three years.

"We were able to raise our game in more or less all areas. The whole team have become more professional, more committed and everyone is working hand in hand for success.

"It's not usual to be a part of something like that, and I don't see myself in a position to say this is what I have done. This is what they have done. We are a team and we are happy to do all we do."

Remarkably, for a man who has won 10 races already this season, he accepted that he still had areas for improvement.

Smiling broadly, he said: "It's always a difficult question to know where to improve. I think, being 24, there are a lot of areas to understand, a lot of bits inside and outside the car.

"You always need to be ready to learn, and small steps can make the difference. When I look at Korea, we were able to learn from Japan -- both the team and myself.

"Only small things sometimes, but we addressed them and did a better job. You have to be open like that, always ready to learn and working always for the next race.

"I put it this way -- I care about the sport, I know its history and the numbers.

"I like to see from time to time my name somewhere, but I don't set myself targets about the number of wins or stuff like that.

"I'm not racing for statistics. I'm a big fan of the sport. I love Formula 1. I always did as a small kid and that hasn't changed." -- AFP

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Sabtu, 22 Oktober 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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