PETALING JAYA (By ERIC SAMUEL): Fancied Lions XII were shown the exit in the FA Cup competition when they went down 1-0 to their bogey team PKNS FC in a first round replay at the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

 The Singapore Under-23 side failed to recover from a Mohd Fauzan Dzulkifli’s goal scored in the 19th minute. The visitors paid the price for a lapse of concentration inside the box when an unchallenged Mohd Fauzan headed the ball past Lions XII goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud from a corner kick.

 Lions XII coach V. Sundramoorthy had more misery when his side were reduced to 10 men after attacking midfielder Raihan Rahman was sent off in the 25th minute.

 PKNS have now beaten the Singaporeans in their last three meetings – in the Malaysia Cup group match (last year) and in the Super League match played here last week.

 The tie was replayed after heavy rain forced the scheduled match on Friday to be abandoned after 38th minutes. PKNS were then leading 1-0 through skipper Helmi Remeli’s goal.

 PKNS, who have never qualified even for the quarter-finals in this tournament since 2009, play defending champions Kelantan away in the second round on Feb 26.

 Yesterday, PKNS could have won by a more convincing margin if not for their mis-firing forwards Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh, Faiz Isa and Mohd Nizad Ayub.

 Wleh squandered at least three sitters including two attempts which came off the woodwork in the 52nd and 89th minutes. Faiz also had a chance to put his name on the scorer’s list but ballooned the ball with only Lions XII custodian Izwan to beat in the 18th minute.

 Lions XII forward’s Safuwan Baharuddin and Fazrul Nawas found the PKNS defence led by skipper Helmi and goalkeeper Mohd Remezey Che Ros a stumbling block.

 In another replay, Negri Sembilan made short work of UiTM FC 2-0 at the Stadium UiTM in Shah Alam. Argentine import Emanuel De Porras scored both goals.

Related posts:

• Draw specialists PKNS eye scalp of Lions XII
• PKNS pull off upset by beating Lions
• Forces tame Lions in shootout to reach final
• Lions tame fighting Laos
• Finally, Selangor tame the Lions at home