Pahang dramatically advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals, despite losing 2-1 away to Johor Darul Takzim (JDT), winning 4-3 on aggregate.
Two first-half goals from JDT’s Argentinian force, Gonzalo Cabrera and Gabriel Guerra was thought to be enough for the Southern Tigers to go through, only for Mohamadou Sumareh to deliver the ultimate sucker punch.
It only took six minutes for JDT to unnerve Pahang when Cabrera collected Safiq Rahim’s through pass and he shoots past Wan Azraie to lead 1-0 on the night.
It got better for the home side on the 26th minute when Guerra took advantage of a disorganized defensive line to be miles onside in order to receive Azrif Nasrulhaq’s sublime through pass and proceed to score that saw JDT lead on away goals.
Pahang though never looked like threatening the JDT box with Joseph Kalang Tie unable to get a header in near post from Matheus Alves’ left-wing cross on the 32nd minute.
And Pahang continued to be ineffective in the final third with JDT having most of the ball and conjuring attacks on the away side’s box. Three minutes from stoppage time, Pahang pulled a fast one.
Substitute Nurridzuan Hassan whipped a cross into the box from the left and Sumareh rose highest to head the ball in to silence the home fans at the 87th minute.
The game though ended in a sour note when a scrap ensued between the both set of players after Afiq Fazail retaliated when he was fouled by Sumareh by kicking the winger on the torso.
With the win, Pahang will face Negeri Sembilan next in the semi-finals.
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