Chance for JDT to take revenge
Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are in with a chance to exact revenge on Pahang for last year’s heartache as the two sides have been drawn to face each other in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup next month.
JDT, FA Cup champions in 2016, loss to The Elephants 4-3 on aggragate at the same stage last year, and the Southern Tigers will not want history to repeat itself this time round.
However, Pahang who last lifted the trophy in 2014 and lost to Kedah 3-2 in last year’s final are clearly ready despite the daunting draw that was announced.
For Pahang manager Datuk Sufian Awang, be believes that coach Dollah Salleh’s charges are at their best after they eliminated defending champions Kedah by defeating The Red Eagles 1-0 in the thrid round match that was played at the Darul Makmur Stadium last week.
“I am confident and firmly believe that both teams have devised strategies for the match. We do respect JDT who will be just as determined to advance as they would want to make amends for the defeat that we handed them last year.
“But we have tactics and match strategy for the match which is being devised by none other than coach Dollah Salleh to ensure that we are able to repeat last year’s feat and march to the semi-finals of the tournament once more. This match will be our very own ‘El Clasico’ as it will be the match that almost every Malaysian football fan will want to watch and not miss,” said Sufian when met after the FA Cup draw ceremony that was held here earlier today.
Whichever team wins the highly anticipated quarter-final encounter will advance to face either Felda United or Perak SEDC who square off in the other quarter-final match.
Another hotly contested quarter-final is the Klang Valley derby between Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Both teams have already met in the Super League at the Kuala Lumpur Football Association Stadium (KLFA Stadium) in Cheras last month which saw the Red Giants triumph 2-0.
The winner of the Klang Valley derby will meet the winner of the quarter-final between PKNS FC and Perak.
The first leg of the quarter-finals will take on April 6, 7 and 8, while the second leg will be on April 20, 21 and 22.
FA Cup quarter-final draw: Kuala Lumpur v Selangor, PKNS FC v Perak, Pahang v Johor Darul Ta’zim, Perak SEDC V FELDA United.