JOHOR Darul Ta’zim (JDT) showcased a stylish 3-1 win over Terengganu in the FA Cup final on Saturday (Sept 10).
This was in contrast to last year when the team was shocked 0-2 by Kuala Lumpur in the Malaysia Cup final at the same venue.
Rising to the occasion was 20-year-old Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi and a brace from Brazilian Bergson da Silva that resulted in JDT reclaiming the FA Cup title they last won six years ago.
This is only the second time JDT will return with the FA Cup trophy since 2016 when defeated PKNS at the Shah Alam Stadium.
JDT also made the final in 2013 but lost 0-1 to Kelantan.
For Terengganu supporters who traveled all the way, it was a letdown for their home team.
Their hope of winning their first major football trophy in 11 years went down the drain, thanks to Nafuzi Zain, who just could not FEND OFF excellent play by JDT.
The last time Terengganu clinched a significant win in Malaysian football was when it defeated Kelantan 2-1 to take home the FA Cup title in 2011, also at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Terengganu rested their Liberian striker Kpah Sherman while JDT banked on national goalkeeper Farizal Marlias for the final.
Arif Aiman scored in the 34th minute to hand JDT a 1-0 lead at half-time.
JDT continued to outplay Terengganu in the second half and when Da Silva scored in the 62nd minute, converting a penalty won after he was tripped by Terengganu’s Mohd Rahadiazli Rahalim.
The hard-working captain Kipre Tchetche from Ivory Coast pulled one back for Terengganu in the 76th minute but Bergson quickly restored the advantage for JDT by scrambling home his second goal three minutes later.
More than 78,000 fans packed the venue in what was the first FA Cup final in three years.
Kedah won the 2019 FA Cup title after defeating Perak 1-0 and after came the moratorium on the games due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
-BTS Media
