Jumbo joy in JB
Sumareh’s late header sends Elephants into semi-finals
JOHOR BARU: Mohamadou Sumareh turned out to be Pahang’s hero as he scored a late goal to dump defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) out of the FA Cup.
With JDT overturning a 3-1 firstleg deficit with a 2-0 lead on the night at the Larkin Stadium, the Gambian forward rose highest in the 85th minute to head home to give Pahang a 4-3 aggregate win and a place in the semi-finals.
JDT would have made the last four on the away goals rule if the aggregate score had stood at 3-3.
Needing a 2-0 win, JDT head coach Benjamin Mora fielded an attacking line-up with skipper Safiq Rahim, Gonzalo Cabrera and Gabriel Guerra returning to the starting XI after being rested in the 3-0 win over Cambodia’s Beoungket Angkor in their penultimate Group F match in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
The home side gave their vociferous fans plenty to cheer about with Argentine Cabrera giving JDT the lead after only six minutes. From a through pass by Safiq, Cabrera fired past goalkeeper Wan Azraie Wan Teh.
JDT then wiped out Pahang’s advantage in the 22nd minute with Guerra scoring past Wan Azraie after good work by winger Mohd Azrif Nasrulhaq.
JDT continued to pound Pahang after the break.
Pahang’s turning point came when Pahang coach Dollah Salleh decided bring on winger Muhd Nurridzuan Abu Hassan for Ahmad Syamim Yahya in the 80th minute.
It was Nurridzuan who provided the cross for Sumareh to head past JDT goalkeeper Izham Tarmizi Roslan in the 85th minute.
Pahang, the 2014 champions, will take on Premier League leaders Negri Sembilan in the semi-finals first leg at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on April 29. The return leg is at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on May 13.