Ashaari delivers for hosts Terengganu

DEFENDING champions Terengganu will take on Perlis in the 12th Sukma football final at the new Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak on Sunday.

While Super League striker Ashaari Shamsuddin starred for Terengganu when he scored a hat-trick in their 3-0 win over Kedah, goalkeeper Hairul Fazreen was the hero for Perlis in their 4-1 penalty shoot-out win over Penang in yesterday’s semi-finals. Perlis and Penang failed to score in regulation time.

Hairul shut out Khairzul Azri and Noraslan Mohd’s attempts. Mohd Failee Mohd converted the third kick for Penang. Perlis were through after converting the first four kicks.

The Perlis scorers were Hazwan Rahman, Khairul Faiz, Mohd Ridzuan Othman and Amar Rohidan.

Terengganu coach Khalid Mohd Dahan said their win over Kedah was hard earned despite the scoreline.

It’s mine: Terengganu's Ahmad Nordin Alias (right) fights for the ball with Kedah’s MohdBunyamin Umar during their semi-final match in Kuala Terengganu yesterday. Terengganuwon 3-0.

“The score may have looked flattering but it was not an easy game for my boys,” said Khalid.

Ashaari scored in the 10th, 67th and 72nd minutes to give the 10,000-odd fans at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu plenty to cheer for.