Kedah players.

KUALA LUMPUR: AFC Cup 2008 quarter-finalists and defending champions Kedah defeated Police 3-1 to stay in contention for a quarter-final berth in the Malaysia Cup on Sunday.

Mohamed Azraai Khor’s charges were winless in the last three matches when they lost to Kuala Lumpur 1-0 and later were held 3-3 by Sabah and 1-1 by Johor FC.

The Canaries defeated Group B leaders Police, thanks to goals from Baddrol Bakhtiar (5), Mohd Fadly Baharom (44) and Marlon James (53). Nor Farhan Mohd scored the only goal for Police in the 20th minute.

Kedah, who will face Bahrain’s Muharraq in the first leg of their AFC Cup quarter-finals away on September 16, are now on third place in the six-team standings with nine points. They are two points behind joint leaders Police and Johor FC.

Top two teams from the three groups and two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Perak, another AFC Cup side, are lying fourth in Group C with six points, nine less than leaders UPB-My Team after five games.