Malaysian Super League: Out to end PKNS curse

SINGAPORE - Four games, four losses, no goals scored.

Since they first entered Malaysian club football competitions in 2012, the LionsXII have failed to garner joy from their travels to PKNS, with the Red Ants winning 1-0 in every single fixture.

This abysmal record - in the Malaysian Super League (MSL), the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup - could have even greater implications if it continues this year.

A loss tonight at the Shah Alam Stadium could nudge the LionsXII further down the MSL standings, and leave them in danger of missing out on the glamorous post-season Malaysia Cup.

Fandi Ahmad's charges sit in eighth spot in the 12-team MSL standings, six points above ATM FA in the relegation zone, with just three games remaining.

The Singapore side have relegation immunity as part of the 2011 memorandum of understanding that brought the team into existence, but with automatic qualification for the Malaysia Cup hinging on a finish in the top 10 of the MSL, a poor season could end up absolutely catastrophic in a blink of an eye.

If they end the season in 11th spot, the LionsXII will face the sixth-placed team of the Malaysian Premier League - the country's second-tier league competition - in a one-off playoff for a spot in the Cup.

"Our worst fear is that we don't qualify automatically, which means we'll need to get a win as soon as possible and regain some confidence," said skipper Isa Halim. "And that will start (tonight) against our bogey team, PKNS. We need a win against PKNS, and we are trying not to think of them as our bogey team."

While PKNS are rooted to the bottom of the table, and have lost their last five games, the LionsXII's task will not be easy.

They will have to do without top-scorer Khairul Amri, the cultured left foot of Zulfahmi Arifin and utility man Hafiz Abu Sujad, who are all out injured. The cause is not helped by the suspension of hard-tackling defender Shakir Hamzah.

A fixture that seemed merely academic has now taken on much greater significance.

It is a fact not lost on Safuwan Baharudin, the team's second top-scorer, with four goals (Amri has seven).

"Of course I'm worried that Amri cannot play in this game. What makes it worse is that I haven't scored in the last four games, either," he told TNP.

Disaster

"It will be a disaster if we have to go through to the Malaysia Cup by a playoff."

Safuwan has noticed the flailing support for the team that won the MSL last year, and he is determined to draw fans back.

"We know that there has been a lot of negative talk about the team. We have to finish as high up as we can to win them back," said the 23-year-old.

The Singapore side's away form makes for dismal reading: three wins, a solitary draw, and five losses have seen them earn only 10 of 27 points on offer. And they have had little joy of late, losing all three of their most recent away fixtures, to Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor.

The key to victory tonight, according to Isa, is nerves.

"In the past, I've seen how opponents have settled down quicker than we have, but that's what we need to do (tonight)," he said.

"Settle early, and dictate the tempo of the game, that's how we can stop our bogey team."

Away losses against PKNS 2012:

April 14, MSL, Petaling Jaya Stadium

Sept 4, Malaysia Cup, Petaling Jaya

2013:

Jan 15, MSL, Shah Alam Stadium

Jan 26, FA Cup First round, Petaling Jaya

LionsXII away from home in 2014

League record

Win 3; Draw 1; Loss: 5

Away form: LLLWW

Biggest away win: 2-0, over Sime Darby, April 5

Biggest away loss: 3-1, to Sarawak, March 15