KUANTAN (22 March 2015) – Defending champions Pahang could only manage a 2-1 win over FAM Cup side Malaysian Indian Sports Council-Malaysian Indian Football Association (MISC-MIFA) in a FA Cup third round match at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan to advance to the quarter-finals.
At the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, Lions XII had an easy 4-0 win over KL SPA Putrajaya, scoring two goals in each half as Fandi Ahmad and company celebrated the big win and earn a juicy quarter-final tie against Johor Darul Takzim II.
Pahang’s quarter-final opponents are Premier League outfit Penang, who knocked out another Premier League outfit Negri Sembilan in the third round in Paroi with a 2-1 win.
Lions XII were 1-0 up after 16 minutes of play with Madhu Mohana (pix) putting the finishing touches to a corner by Gabriel Quak. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 for the homesters with Khairul Amri scoring his first of the two on the night.
Gabriel got his name into the scoresheet with the third goal before Khairul completed his brace on 83 minutes to earn the right to meet their neighbours from across the Causeway.
Pahang, who have been struggling in scoring despite creating the chances paraded their strongest lineup with the return of international Azamuddin Akil – playing his first competitive match this season after picking a knee injury (ACL) while playing against Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last December.
Alex or Azamuddin played for 65 minutes before being substituted but did enough on the field for his team to lead 2-0 after 58 minutes. Also back in the team were Nigerian striker Dickson Nwakaeme and Fauzi Roslan, who did not play in the AFC Cup match against South China FC which Pahang lost 1-0.
Fauzi gave a good account of himself to score Pahang’s second goal of the night after being setup by Nwakaeme in the 58th minute. National trainee R. Gopinathan, who earned a last minute call up by national coach Dollah Salleh, opened scoring for the Elephants on 48 minutes.
MISC-MIFA scored an injury time goal through S. Harivarman.
FA CUP THIRD ROUND RESULTS (March 22)
Pahang 2 MISC-MIFA 1
Lions XII 4 KL SPA Putrajaya 0
QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES
Pahang vs Penang
Sime Darby vs Kelantan
Terengganu vs Perak
Lions XII vs JDT II
