Southeast Asia Malaysia

Treble-Chasers, Defending Champs, History Makers Book Malaysia Cup Quarterfinal Slots

The second leg of the 2022 Malaysia Cup round of 16 matches were played out across October 31st and November 1st, with eight teams sealing their spots in the quarterfinals.

Johor Darul Ta’zim, who are seeking to reinforce their hegemony over Malaysian football with yet another domestic treble this season, comfortably saw off Petaling Jaya City FC 2-0, thus winning 6-0 on aggregate.

This season’s Liga Super runners-up Terengganu FC also had a comfortable ride in their round of 16 tie, beating Sri Pahang FC in a high-scoring 4-2 victory. Having demolished the Tok Gajah 5-1 in the first leg, the Turtles are through to the last eight with a resounding 9-3 aggregate win.

Liga Super bronze medalists Sabah FC had a less-than-straightforward path to the quarterfinal, being held at home 1-1 by second-tier side UiTM FC. Nonetheless the Rhinos’ slim 2-1 win in the first leg was enough for them to scrape through 3-2 on aggregate.

Another Liga Premier Malaysia side in Kelantan FC managed to book their quarterfinal ticket after forcing cash-strapped Liga Super side Sarawak United to a 1-1 draw, thus winning 3-2 on aggregate. The match could potentially be Sarawak United’s last in a while, after the Golden Hornbills had failed in their appeal towards the Malaysian Football League’s decision to ban them from next season’s revamped Liga Super due to their financial issues.

Sarawak United’s local rivals Kuching City FC were left smiling after their own round of 16 tie, after a sloppily-scored winner deep into extra time by Wan Mohammad Faiz allowed the second-tier side to eliminate top-flight Penang FC 4-3 on aggregate. Il Gatto were participating in the Malaysia Cup for only the second time in their existence and their triumph over Penang meant that Kuching are through to the last eight for the first time in their history.

Defending cup champions Kuala Lumpur City FC had a straightforward path to the quarters, building upon their 3-0 win in the first leg to edge out PDRM FC 1-0 in the second leg, thus advancing thanks to a 4-0 aggregate win. There were also quarterfinal tickets for Selangor FC and Negeri Sembilan FC, who eliminated Kelantan United and Kedah Darul Aman respectively.

The first leg of the Malaysia Cup quarterfinals will be played on November 5th and 6th, with JDT taking on Kelantan, Kuching and Sabah facing-off in a Borneo Derby, Kuala Lumpur squaring-up against Terengganu, and Selangor aiming to get past Negeri Sembilan.