Football: Toothless LionsXII slump to 2-0 Malaysia Cup defeat in Kedah

SINGAPORE - An uninspired LionsXII fell 0-2 to Kedah at the Darul Aman Stadium on Friday evening, surrendering top spot in Group A of the Malaysia Cup.

A brace from Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh brought the 30,000-strong crowd to their feet, while the visitors struggled to keep possession and took 54 minutes to muster their first shot on target.

The Singapore outfit will fall to third in the group if Johor Darul Takzim II (four points) beat Terengganu at home on Saturday. Kedah lead the four-team group with seven points but they enjoy a superior goal difference to the LionsXII.

Fandi Ahmad's men have some reflecting to do before they next host the Shahril Ishak-led JDT II on Oct 17.

Aiming for a crucial away point in Kedah, the LionsXII instead gave away the ball carelessly and failed to supply chances for sole striker Khairul Amri. They were made to pay just two minutes after the break.

Brazilian playmaker Sandro da Silva's free-kick was tipped onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud. Somehow, Chidi Edeh found himself unmarked right in front of goal, and the Nigerian striker gleefully nodded in the rebound.

The 35-year-old later hit the bar with another header, while Izwan was forced into several parries to keep his side in the game.

But he could do nothing to deny Chidi in the 77th minute. Latching onto Sandro's slide-rule pass, Kedah's No. 10 slotted home after beating a poorly-executed offside trap.

Even the second-half introduction of nippy forwards Sahil Suhaimi and Christopher van Huizen failed to spark the LionsXII into action.

In the dying minutes, midfielder Safuwan Baharudin was tugged inside the Canaries' penalty box, but the referee played the advantage and the ball was scrambled off the line.

It summed up a forgettable evening for the LionsXII and their fans.

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