George Boateng's Kelantan FA braced themselves for next weekend's Malaysia Super League (MSL) away clash against table topping Perak with a creditable 2-1 away win at Sarawak on Friday night to advance to the last 16 stage of the FA Cup.
Colombian striker Erwin Carrillo and Cameroon born forward Emmanuel Kenmogne were on target for Kelantan in the second and 64th minutes at the State Stadium in Kuching. Former A-League and Australia international forward Ryan Griffiths equalised for the hosts in the 30th minute.
Former Australia international and Kelantan centre-back Jonathan McKain told ESPN FC on Saturday that the confidence is back in the Red Warriors' camp following the win and that they intend replicating the win on the road on March 6.
"Sarawak are tough to beat at their home. They are undefeated at home this season and it was a very difficult game for us as we were playing in front of a full house," said the former Adelaide United captain.
"Coming back with a win has done our confidence a world of good ahead of the next MSL game in Perak. Our coach George [Boateng] will work out a strategy during the week to counter Perak and come Friday we are confident we will bag the maximum three points."
Boateng's side have six points from their three MSL games, one behind joint leaders Perak and Felda United who have played the same number of matches.
Kelantan fell to a 4-0 home defeat in their previous MSL game against PDRM on Feb. 21 after beginning the 2015 league campaign with back-to-back wins and clean sheets against ATM and LionsXII.
32-year-old McKain said that though the defeat in Kota Bharu was a setback, it did not play too much in their minds in Sarawak.
"George wanted us to remain positive after the PDRM defeat," he said. "He told us that the PDRM game was just a one-off in which things did not work for us. We had played well in the first half and only in the second half did our game fall apart. So we went to Sarawak believing we can win and so we did."
The Red Warriors had to dig deep though. Griffiths had a chance for his second equaliser of the game 10 minutes from full time when Sarawak won a penalty for a hand ball inside the box by Kelantan left-back Zairul Fitree. But custodian Fahmi Che Mat saved the day by saving off the 33-year-old former Australia international.
Kelantan also failed to convert a penalty. With the scores deadlocked at 1-1 around the hour mark, Carrillo was brought down in the box but the Colombian inexplicably was wide off target with the spot kick he had earned.
PDRM continued their excellent start to the season by defeating Sabah 3-0 on Friday at the Shah Alam Stadium to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup. Once again, their free-scoring forwards wreaked havoc among the rival defenders. Mali born striker Dramane Traore -- the top scorer of the new MSL season with four goals -- bagged a brace and Maldives forward Ali Ashfaq completed the scoring against Malaysia Premier League side Sabah, who started without former Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf.
In the 27th minute, Traore played in Ali who slotted in past onrushing Sabah goalkeeper Fazli Paat. Thirteen minutes later, the Maldivian returned the favour sending in low cross for Traore, who did not fluff the simple tap in.
The visitors introduced captain Diouf in an attempt to reduce the deficit. But Police sealed victory with a third goal at the stroke of half-time when Ali again turned provider for Traore, who headed in his second goal of the night and sixth of the season.
Sime Darby routed Malaysia FAM league side PBAPP FC 5-1 at the Selayang Stadium thanks to a hat trick from Serbian striker Nemanja Vidakovic.
Malaysia Premier League outfit Kedah won 1-0 at FAM league side Hanelang FC. Teenage midfielder Mohd Farhan Roslan scored the winner in the 35th minute.
Liberian striker Francis Doe bagged a brace in Paroi to help NS Matrix FC (formerly Negeri Sembilan) defeat fellow Malaysia Premier League club UiTM FC 2-0.
FAM league sides Kuala Lumpur and MISC-MIFA also reached the last 16 stage of the FA Cup defeating MOF FC and Sungai Ara FC respectively.