Pushing the limits: Kelantan’s Muhaimin Izuddin Mohd Asri (second from right) in action against Johor Darul Ta’zim in the Malaysia Cup quarter-final first leg. Kelantan lost 3-0 and will face JDT in the return leg today. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: It will be a Herculean task to turn the tables on football powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) but Kelantan are still hoping for a miracle when they take on the treble winners in the return leg of the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals in Johor Baru today.
The Red Warriors were humiliated in front of their fans at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru when the visitors secured a 3-0 win on Nov 5 but defender Abdul Latiff Suhaimi said the fight is far from over although they will be playing at JDT’s fortress, the Sultan Ismail Stadium.
JDT are unbeaten in all local competitions this season. They have won 10 matches and drawn one at home, and this will be the formidable record the Red Warriors will have to keep in mind before the second leg.
“It was disappointing to lose 0-3 in front of our fans but we have to admit JDT are in a different class altogether. About 20,000 fans were at the stadium and came from far to support us. It was the biggest turnout so far,” said Latiff.
“Despite trailing, we kept trying and the fans did not give up on us.
“It looks really difficult for us to win there but we will keep trying and put up a much improved performance compared to the first leg.”
Latiff, who joined Kelantan in the middle of the season from Penang, has settled down with the team as the central defender from his previous position as a midfielder.
Meanwhile, JDT will be maintaining the momentum in order to complete their double after slipping up last year in the Malaysia Cup where they lost to Kuala Lumpur.
JDT have only secured the Malaysia Cup in 2017 and 2019 despite winning nine Super League titles on the trot since 2014.
In their own standards, this is an under achievement by a mile and the Southern Tigers will be even more lethal to set things right in their Malaysia Cup campaign this year.
