JOHOR BARU (22 October 2017) – Four-times Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim will face defending champions Kedah in this year’s Malaysia Cup final on November 4 after knocking out Perak and Felda United respectively in the two-leg semi-finals.
A second-half blitz saw JDT crush Perak 3-0 at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru to advance 4-1 on aggregate. At the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar the Red Eagles notched a 2-0 win over Felda United to advance 3-1 on a aggregate.
It is a dream final for many as Kedah made their third successive Malaysia Cup final while JDT will be playing in only their second. The two teams have been the most consistent teams in the M-League.
A double striker by Gonzalo Cabrera lighted up the Larkin Stadium after a tale of missed chances by both sides in the first half with Perak goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim Jothy and JDT’s Izham Tarmizi Roslan stealing the limelight with their quick reflexes in keeping their goals intact.
However, JDT’s dominance in front of their home fans finally bore fruit and this came in the 57th minute when Cabrera got his first and added another in the 75th minute. Gabriel Guerra finalised the in the 81st minute on a night when Lebanese striker Mohammed Ghaddar was a plain shadow.
Perak had a goal disallowed although it was an own goal by JDT’s S. Kunanlan. The visitors hotly disputed the referee’s decision which left Perak frustrated. The final whistle was greeted by fireworks by the home fans.
In Alor Setar the Red Eagles soared to their third final in as many years and it was also their foreign signing Sandro Mendonca who made things count. He scored a brace with the first coming in the 71st minute. His second came in the 86th minute.
RESULTS (Oct 21)
MALAYSIA CUP SEMI-FINALS (2ND-LEG)
JDT 3 PERAK 0
(JDT advance 4-1 on aggregate)
KEDAH 2 FELDA UNITED 0
(Kedah advance 3-1 on aggregate)
