Eshun nets a brace in Malaysia

KUCHING, Malaysia -- Ghanaian striker Robert Eshun scored a brace as he steered Sarawak to a comfortable 5-2 win over Johor in the FA Cup quarter-final first-leg match at the Sarawak Stadium here last night.

The thumping win virtually assured the Crocs ? FA Cup champions in 1992 and finalists in 2000 ? a place in the semi-finals as Johor faced a tough task to overcome the deficit in the return-leg at the Larkin Stadium next Sunday.

Even a ?ritual? adopted by the Scorpions failed to work as Eshun netted two well-taken goals past Johor keeper Zamri Mat Arif in the 17th and 26th minutes.

Johor reduced the deficit in the 49th minute through Syukri Ismail but Sarawak were never in danger of losing the match.

Johor players performed a ?ritual? as they came out to warm up ? entering the field from the goalpost on the left side of the grandstand. Each player placed his hand on the field before kissing it.

The ?ritual? however, worked against them when Eshun ? wearing the number 17 jersey ? made it count in the 17th minute.

Eshun had three markers on him, with one even pulling his jersey. But the Ghanaian wriggled his way and played a one-two with Bobby Pian before unleashing a grounder past Johor keeper Zamri Mat Arif.

In the 26th minute, Eshun extended his goal tally when he rose high to head the ball home off a beautiful back header by Emmanuel Sarpong.

Johor defender Syukri Ismail gave Johor some hope of a fight back when he hammered home a rebound off Sarawak keeper Azley Abdullah in the 49th minute.

Sarawak came back strongly to keep their two-goal advantage when Eshun was brought down by Yusman Hassan. Ramos Sari made no mistake from the spot in the 52nd minute.

Goal number four came in the 58th minute when Wong Sai Kong beat Johor's offside trap and whipped home a grounder past Zamri.

The Crocs earned another penalty when Johor skipper Suhaimi Jamil was hauled up for hand ball in the 80th minute. Ramles Sari made it 5-1 from the spot.

Farid Ideris netted another consolation goal for Johor deep into injury time.