BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
The penultimate round of the 2018 Malaysia Cup group stage was played over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and six teams have booked their places in the knockout stage.
Group A
Perak will follow Terengganu FC into the next stage, when the former beat the latter 2-1 in Kuala Terengganu. Gilmar da Silva opened the scoring for the visitors in the 21st minute, and the hosts were made to wait until the 65th minute for the equaliser, an Ashari Samsudin half-volley from inside the box. But Gilmar found the winner three minutes from time, to take the Bos Gaurus through to the quarter-finals.
Terengganu-Perak match highlights
Despite a 4-3 away win over Kuala Lumpur, Felcra FC's chances of qualifying have evaporated. The Rivals goals were scored by Aziz Rahim (20', 43' p.), Nazrul Kamaruzaman (68') and David Laly (83'), while the hosts' goals came from Gilherme de Paula's goals (60', 82' p.), and Zainudin Abidin's 74th minute own goal.
KL-Felcra match highlights
Standings: Terengganu (10) Perak (10) Felcra (5) Kuala Lumpur (3)
Group B
Felda United booked their knockout stage slot with a 2-0 win over PDRM at home. Their goals were scored by Thiago Fernandes in the 66th minute, and Gilberto Fortunato in injury time.
Felda-PDRM match highlights
PKNS FC advanced at the expense of Melaka United, after defeating the Mousedeers 2-1 in Shah Alam. Romel Morales opened the scoring for the hosts in the 23rd minute, before in-form Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim equalised in the 54th minute. Rafael Ramazotti netted the winner in the 66th minute, heading in a corner kick.
PKNS-Melaka match highlights
Standings: Felda (10) PKNS (10) Melaka (6) PDRM (1)
Group C
Group C remains the only group without a confirmed quarter-finalists, and even its last-placed team still keeps a mathematical chance of reaching the knockout stage. Group leaders MISC-MIFA, playing without their suspended foreign stars L'Imam Seydi and Kpah Sherman, were held to a goalless draw against Kelantan in Kota Bharu.
Kelantan-MIFA match highlights
Kedah meanwhile continued their resurgence, by defeating defending champions JDT 3-1 at home. The hosts needed only six minutes to open the scoring, thanks to Sandro da Silva's goal, but Fernando Marquez equalised for the visitors thirty minutes later. A defensive mix-up in the JDT defence then allowed Akhyar Rashid to give the Red Eagles the lead again two minutes into the second half. JDT centre back Marcos Antonio was sent off for a second booking one minute before the end, and Liridon Krasniqi sealed the win with a wonderful curling goal deep in injury time.
Kedah-JDT match highlights
Standings: MIFA (8) Kedah (8), JDT (6) Kelantan (5)
Group D
Needing a win to confirm their quarter-final slot, Pahang instead lost 3-1 at home to ten-man Selangor, who were already unable to advance. A defensive error allowed Rufino Segovia to open the scoring for the visitors in the seventh minute, but they were down to ten men in 28th minute after defender Ashmawi Yakin was shown a straight red for a desperate foul on Mohamadou Sumareh right outside the penalty area. The ensuing free kick was brilliantly put away by Safuwan Baharudin. But another defensive mix-up allowed the Red Giants to go in front again, this time through Willian Pacheco's 48th minute goal. Deep in injury time, Pahang's misery was compounded when Sarkunan Krishnansamy pounced on a rebound to score their third goal of the night.
Pahang-Selangor match highlights
Luckily for the Elephants, the result of the other match in the group favoured them. Underdogs Sabah, whose qualification was secured by Pahang's defeat, returned the favour by edging PKNP FC 2-0 at the Pulau Pinang State Stadium. Goals by Rodoljub Paunovic (31') and Hector Ramos (81') secured the Rhinos' knockout stage slot and also top spot in the group.
PKNP-Sabah match highlights
Standings: Sabah (13) Pahang (8) PKNP (4) Selangor (3)
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