PETALING JAYA: Brunei and Kuala Lumpur played out a six-goal thriller as they battled to a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup quarter-final first leg at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan on Sunday (Sept 20).
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 18th minute through Australian striker Jordan Murray, but the City Boys hit back through a Paulo Josue penalty in the 33rd minute.
Brunei regained the lead through winger Farris Izdiham Awang Kechik in the 54th minute before Portuguese midfielder Miguel Oliveira made it 3-1 four minutes later.
Kuala Lumpur reduced the deficit when winger Baqiuddin Shamsuddin headed home a cross from Josue in the 72nd minute.
Datuk Dollah Salleh’s side then completed the comeback five minutes later when Afghanistan striker Fareed Sadat headed in Josue’s free kick to make it 3-3.
In another quarter-final first leg, 10-man Kelantan City, the only A1 Semi-Pro League side left in the competition, frustrated Kuching City in a goalless draw at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Baru.
Kelantan City defender Ahmad Nazri Muhammad was shown a straight red card in the 40th minute, forcing the hosts to spend much of the remainder of the match on the defensive.
Whenever Kuching managed to breach the defence, goalkeeper Yuaiman Mt Jusoh was equal to the task, producing several saves to keep the Super League side at bay.
Kuching, who had the likes of Ramadhan Saifullah and Jerome Mpacko Etame in their ranks, were also reduced to 10 men when Etame was sent off for a foul in the 80th minute.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in the closing stages.
Earlier, defending FA Cup champions Johor Darul Ta’zim ran riot with a 7-2 thrashing of Penang at the City Stadium in George Town.
Newly called-up mixed-heritage defender Bradley Tapp struck twice, scoring in the 45th and 70th minutes.
JDT’s other goals came from Bergson da Silva (16th), Marcus Guilherme (54th), Juan Molina Martinez (63rd), Shahab Zahedi (65th) and Arif Aiman Hanapi (90+5).
Penang replied through French striker Enzo Celestine (46th) and winger Khalaif Naskam (90+6).
