Johor Darul Ta’zim’s quest to retain their domestic treble continues on Thursday, after the Southern Tigers confirmed their place in the 2023 Malaysia Cup final with a thumping 8-1 win over Perak FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium – advancing out of the semifinals with a convincing 12-2 aggregate victory.
Having won the first leg in Ipoh 4-1 back in October 19th, Thursday’s second leg at Johor Bahru saw JDT not holding themselves back at all despite having effectively sealed their spot in the final prior to kick-off at the Sultan Ibrahim. Head coach Esteban Scolari named a strong lineup for the Bos Gaurus‘ visit, which includes captain Jordi Amat and such heavy hitters in Arif Aiman and Bergson.
And surely enough, JDT – who already won this season’s Liga Super Malaysia and Malaysia FA Cup – stamped their authority all over Perak throughout the match. The first half saw the Southern Tigers go 3-0 up, thanks to goals from Arif in the 12th minute, Bergson in the 27th minute, and True Bangkok United loanee Heberty in the 31st minute.
The second half saw the floodgates being well and truly open, with Farhan Majid in the Perak goal powerless to stop JDT’s onslaught. Fernando Forestieri scored JDT’s fourth in the 52nd minute, before eight minutes later Bergson made it 5-0.
Syafiq Ahmad scored a brace in the 62nd and 77th minutes to further extend JDT’s lead, before Heberty closed out the rout in the first minute of injury time.
Perak, who ironically won their most recent league match 8-0 over a crisis-hit Kelantan FC, pulled one back right at the death through Firdaus Fuad, but it was too little too late as the goal served as mere consolation for the Bos Gaurus.
JDT will face Terengganu FC, who edged out Kuala Lumpur City FC 2-1 on Friday’s semifinal, in the 2023 Malaysia Cup final on December 9th at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.