JDT roar at home
Ghaddar fires a brace to extend Southern Tiger’s unbeaten run
JOHOR BARU: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) extended their unbeaten home record to 40 matches after beating Selangor 3-1 in their Malaysia Cup Group D match at the Larkin Stadium.
Goals from Lebanese striker Mohamad Ghaddar (16th and 74th minutes) and midfielder Gary Steven Robbat (29th) ensured the Southern Tigers topped the group with 13 points.
Selangor, who got their consolation goal through Rufino Segovia (27th), also qualified – as group runners-up – with 10 points.
In the quarter-finals, JDT will meet Group C runners-up Melaka; Selangor face defending champions and Group C leaders Kedah; Perak will take on Pahang; and Felda will square off against Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP).
At the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan, host Pahang had to slog to edge T-Team 3-2 and book their berth in the quarter-finals from Group A. Striker Yamil Romero was the hero for the Elephants – firing in the winner in the 84th minute.
Pahang had earlier gone ahead through striker Matheus Alves (40th minute). T-Team midfielder Syed Sobri Syed Mohamad equalised in the 52nd minute before Muhd Nor Azam Abdul Azih restored Pahang’s lead two minutes later.
T-Team again drew level – this time through defender Abdoulaye Maiga (57th).
Pahang finished second in the group with nine points behind PKNP, who finished top with 11 points despite being held to a goalless draw by Negri Sembilan at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi.
Perak sealed top spot in Group B after edging Felda United 2-1 at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
The Seladang got their goals through Nizad Ayub (26th) and Shahrul Saad (79th) while Fakhrul Sidid replied for Felda (52nd).
In Group C, Melaka advanced to the quarter-finals despite a shocking 5-3 loss to UiTM at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam.
UiTM’s g Nigerian forward AkanniSunday Wasiu fired a hat-trick (13th, 38th penalty, 90+1), while South Korean midfielder Do Dong-hyun scored a brace (30th and 33rd).
Melaka’s goals were scored by Jeon Woo-young (34th), Mohd Azniee Taib (56th) and Fauzi Roslan (87th).
Melaka finished second in the group with nine points behind leaders Kedah, who wrapped up their fixtures with a 2-0 win over Kelantan at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru.
Sandro Mendonca (24th) and Ken Ilso (77th) got the goals for the Red Eagles.