#Pahang take healthy lead after 3-1 win in first-leg
The Malaysia Cup semi-finals beckon East Coast giants Pahang after their impressive 3-1 win over Perak in the first-leg quarter-finals at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Saturday.
The Elephants were just too strong for the visitors and an early disallowed goal for offside was not a bother for the homesters who dominated the proceedings in front of their home supporters.
The battle of the two “Ps” gives Pahang a two-goal cushion for the return-leg at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh next weekend and the confidence gained in Kuantan will stand in good stead for the Elephants.
Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria had a goal disallowed as early as the 11th minute but he was never rattled by the setback. Instead it was Wan Zaharulnizam again in the thick of action when he gave Pahang the lead in the 35th minute.
He was sharp with the opportunity that came his way – a low cross from skipper and international Matthew Davies – which he finished it off with a clinical finish.
That goal put Pahang on fire and in a spate of six minutes the Elephants were dancing with another two quick fire goals which sent Perak reeling on the night.
Afif Amiruddin made it 2-0 on 37 minutes for Pahang’s second goal – slotting home the golden opportunity that came his way off a corner kick. Pahang were now in cruise control.
Pahang’s third goal saw Matthew getting his name into the scoresheet – tucking home a rebound from his earlier attempt which came off Perak’s national goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim.
For all their domination in the first half, Pahang, however, could not add to their tally and allowed Perak to pull one back through Gilmar Filho in the 70th minute.
A day earlier defending champions Kedah, four-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim and newcomers Perak State Economic Development Corporation (PKNP) was their respective first-leg matches against Selangor (3-2), Melaka (4-1) and Felda United (3-1). – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
RESULT
MALAYSIA CUP (QUARTER-FINAL FIRST-LEG)
PAHANG 3 PERAK 1
