KL's Safawi Rasid challenged by a Kelantan player during the match. - Photo: Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Kelantan’s Real Warriors may have lost the battle, but they won the war.
Despite going down 0-1 to Kuala Lumpur City at the Cheras Football Stadium on Sunday (Sept 14), Kelantan held firm to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory and book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Kuala Lumpur dominated the first half, with playmaker Safawi Rasid at the centre of their best opportunities.
The 28-year-old came close on three occasions as the home side searched for a way back into the tie.
The first chance arrived in the seventh minute when fullback Declan Lambert’s low cross found Safawi, but his close-range tap was smothered by Kelantan goalkeeper Dejan Damyanov.
Six minutes later, Safawi thought he had broken the deadlock.
Released by a superb long ball, his initial shot was saved by Damyanov, but he buried the rebound into an empty net - only for VAR to chalk it off after replays showed the ball had struck his hand in the build-up.
In the 31st minute, Safawi tried the spectacular, attempting a bicycle kick - more Sepak Takraw than textbook - after a cheeky chest pass from Liberian striker Kpah Sherman, but the effort flashed just wide.
Kuala Lumpur finally got their reward in the 71st minute when Sherman turned provider, cutting the ball back for Spanish midfielder Victor Ruiz, who coolly placed his shot beyond Damyanov.
That goal gave the home fans hope, but Kelantan stood resolute with new signing Sebastian Avanzini and fellow centreback Wan Amirul Afiq Wan Abdul Rahman producing a defensive masterclass and Damyanov pulling super saves to see out the tie and advance to the last eight.
Meanwhile, in Kuching, the home side cruised into the quarter-finals with a 7-1 thrashing of Brunei at the State Stadium, completing a 9-4 aggregate win over their Borneo neighbours.
Cameroonian striker Ronald Ngah set the tone as early as the second minute, swivelling past his marker before lobbing Brunei goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
Striker Ahmad Danial Asri doubled the lead in the 14th minute after connecting with a cross from winger Ramadhan Saifullah, before Ngah added his second just before the break.
Danial turned provider in the 54th minute, assisting Gabriel Nistelrooy’s finish, but Brunei pulled one back three minutes later through Indonesian striker Ramadhan Sananta after a neat pass from captain Azwan Ali Rahman.
Kuching, however, were relentless.
Naumovski’s failed punch allowed Saifullah’s cross to creep into the net for the fifth before Danial sealed his brace in the 77th minute, capping off a commanding performance in front of the home crowd.
If that wasn't enough, substitute winger from Timor Leste Joao Pedro scored the seventh goal in injury time.
