PETALING JAYA, Sept 15 – Defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) should not have any difficulty in getting into the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after being drawn in Group D with two other Super League sides – Petaling Jaya City FC and Sabah FC, to be joined by the fourth-placed Premier side.
Teams from the Premier League teams will only complete their league fixtures on Sept 21, which will decide their fate in the Malaysia Cup, which is the oldest football tournament in this region.
The Southern Tigers have recently won the Malaysian Super League champions for the eighth consecutive and are hot favourites for the Malaysia Cup, which has a history of its own in Malaysian football scene.
However, Selangor FC, winners of the Malaysia Cup for a record 33 times, has a tough Group B with east coast hopefuls Terengganu FC, relegated Perak FC, and the third-placed team from the second-tier Premier League.
For Terengganu FC, who could only finish fourth in the Super League this season, it gives head coach Nafuzi Zain the opportunity to redeem its disappointment in the league, and the Turtles look good enough for a top-two finish in the group to advance.
”It is a tough group but it is also for us to make up for the big disappointment in the (Super) league,” said Nafuzi, who was given a show-cause letter by the team’s management for the dip in form in the last four matches.
Last year’s Premier League champions Penang FC, who went great guns in the elite Super League for a creditable third behind JDT and Kedah FC, will battle with Kuala Lumpur FC City FC, Sri Pahang plus Premier League runners-up – which could be either Negri Sembilan or Sarawak United.
Kedah FC drew Melaka United and two Premier League outfits in Group C – the Premier League champions and the fifth-placed team.
The group stage matches, the quarter-finals, and the semi-finals will be played on a home and away basis.
The Malaysia Cup Draw
GROUP A
Penang FC
Kuala Lumpur City FC
Sri Pahang
Premier League runners-up
GROUP B
Terengganu FC
Selangor FC
Perak FC
Premier League third-place
GROUP C
Kedah FC
Melaka United FC
Premier League champions
Premier League fifth-placed
GROUP D
JDT
Petaling Jaya City FC
Sabah FC
Premier League fourth-placed
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