It was the night of the foreigners in the first-leg Malaysia Cup quarter-finals between Pahang and defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) ended in a 1-1 draw at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan on Sunday.
Singapore international Safuwan Baharuddin sent the JDT net dancing two minutes into added time with a power-packed header past goalkeeper Farizal Marlias just when the match looked headed JDT’s way.
After a spate of misses from both sides in the first half the visitors came out breathing fire and a minute into the second-half JDT were 1-0 up through Argentine midfielder Gonzalo Cabrera.
It was another tale of “missed chances” from both teams after this before Singapore midfielder Safuwan, always a threat to JDT fired home the header past Farizal much to the delight of the home fans.
Still, JDT takes an away goal advantage for the return leg which will be played at the Larkin Stadium – the home of the Southern Tigers – in Johor Bahru on Sept 29.
JDT won the Malaysia Cup last year with a 2-0 win over Kedah in the final.RIZAL ABDULLAH
