JDT get it right this time

Johor Darul Ta'zim players celebrating after Bergson Da Silva slotted in the third goal in the FA Cup final against Terengganu at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. JDT won 3-1 to reclaim the FA Cup title they last won in 2016.

PETALING JAYA: No more heartbreak as Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) pulled off a stylish 3-1 win over Terengganu in the FA Cup final on Saturday (Sept 10).

It was only last year when JDT headed back home in disappointment after losing 0-2 to Kuala Lumpur in the Malaysia Cup final at the same venue.

But this time, JDT made sure there was no repeat of that as 20-year-old rising star Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi struck in the 34th minute to hand JDT a 1-0 lead at half time.

Then, a brace from Brazilian Bergson da Silva saw JDT reclaiming the FA Cup title they last won six years ago.

Hard working captain Tchetche Kipre from Ivory Coast pulled one back for Terengganu in the 76th minute.

A sell-out crowd of 78,000 packed the venue in what was the first FA Cup final in three years but Terengganu supporters had to go back home disappointed this time.

Terengganu were hopeful of finally winning their first major football trophy in 11 years but the squad handled by Nafuzi Zain just could not find an answer to the brilliant counter-attacking play executed to perfection by JDT.

Terengganu's last major victory in Malaysian football was beating Kelantan 2-1 to win the FA Cup title back in 2011, also at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.