Darul Ta’zim’s Ghaddar bags precious away goal

MOHAMMED Ghaddar rescued Darul Ta’zim from embarrassment as the Johor side came back from a first half setback to earn a 1-1 draw with Perak in yesterday’s Malaysia Cup semi-final first leg match in Ipoh.

Perak took the lead when Darul Ta’zim’s Hasbullah Abu Bakar netted an own goal in the 18th minute before Ghaddar scored off the home team’s defensive error for the equaliser in the 68th minute.

The draw can go down as an unimpressive result for Darul Ta’zim as they fielded their strongest side compared to a weakened Perak who were without five regulars.

However, the Safiq Rahim-led side are still the favourites in this tie as they will entertain Perak in the return leg at Larkin Stadium on Saturday.

For the record, Darul Ta’zim have not lost to a Malaysian club at home since November 2015.

Darul Ta’zim coach Ulisses Morais said the result is acceptable but his team should have won the match.

“It is simply because we had more chances, especially in the second half. But it is okay as this is only the first leg. We will play a different tactic in the return leg.

“We will get the job done at Larkin Stadium as we want to play in the final,” said Morais.

Perak coach Mehmet Durakovic said his side showed the visitors that they can play good football.

“Darul Ta’zim are the best in the league, but we managed to hold them despite missing a few regulars. Their replacements did well. Both teams made one mistake each that resulted in goals. I think it is a fair result,” said Durakovic.

Perak fielded a makeshift midfield following the absence of Brazilian Leandro Dos Santos, Hafiz Kamal, Palestinian Yashir Pinto, Jasazrin Jamaluddin and Nazrin Nawi.

In front of a packed Perak Stadium, Durakovic’s side were not only tight in all aspects, but were also patient when on the attack.

In the 18th minute, Hasbullah gifted Perak a goal. The left-back accidentally kicked the ball past his own goalkeeper Izham Tarmizi Roslan when he was trying to clear a pass from Perak’s Gilmar Filho to Zaquan Adha Radzak.

However, Ghaddar equalised for his sixth goal in the Malaysia Cup following a defensive error by Perak captain Shahrom Kalam in the 68th minute. Ajitpal Singh