Malaysia Cup: LionsXII out in blaze of goals

ATM FA 4

LionsXII 1

(ATM win 4-2 on aggregate)

Oh, how the LionsXII must loathe visiting the Selayang Stadium.

Two years in a row now, the Singapore outfit have seen their dreams of Malaysia Cup glory extinguished by ATM FA on the same ground.

But this time, there were no complaints about added time at the end of added time. No what ifs at the end of a lottery that is the penalty shoot-out.

All the LionsXII had to blame were themselves after a 4-1 drubbing by the armed forces side on Friday evening.

Protecting a slim 1-0 lead going into the second leg of their quarter-final, they chose the most inopportune time to concede four goals for the first time in their two-year history.

From Hariss Harun's own goal, to Safuwan Baharudin's misplaced header and then goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud being beaten at his near post, everything that could have gone wrong, did.

That the trio have been among the team's most consistent performers of the season only rubbed salt into the LionsXII's wounds.

Instead, it was ATM striker Marlon James who took centre stage by capitalising on the defensive calamities to net a hat-trick.

But the Vincentian first played provider when his 22nd-minute cross was sliced goalwards by a backtracking Hariss. Despite the best efforts of Izwan, the ball squirmed across the line.

And it got worse just 11 minutes later, with Safuwan the culprit this time around.

The 22-year-old sold central defensive partner Baihakki Khaizan short with a header which James was ready to pounce on and fire his side ahead on aggregate with a cool finish.

LionsXII midfielder Hafiz Abu Sujad put his side ahead on away goals five minutes after the break with a fine effort from the edge of the box.

But that would prove to be the highlight of their evening.

In the 75th minute, James made it 3-2 on aggregate with a free kick that beat Izwan at his near post. And the 36-year-old completed the rout seven minutes from the end, with a low shot that took a deflection off Isa Halim and crept past Izwan.

Their season over, the LionsXII face an uncertain future with key players and V. Sundramoorthy likely on their way out, with the coach reportedly set to join Negeri Sembilan.

fabiusc@sph.com.sg

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.