KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) created history after retaining the FA Cup for the fourth consecutive season with a 5-0 win over 10-man Sabah at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.
The Southern Tigers started off aggressively, opening the scoring with Jonathan Silva’s header (eighth minute) before racing ahead with an own goal from Rawilson Batuil (20th) and Jairo Da Silva’s goal (22nd) made it 3-0 for a comfortable lead.
Sabah seemed to have reduced the deficit in the 25th minute, but Ajdin Mujagic’s goal was chalked off after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.
The second half saw Sabah’s hopes of a comeback take a blow after defender Miguel Cifuentes was sent off by referee Kamil Zakaria Ismail for a second booking in the 49th minute.
The sending-off led to Sabah supporters throwing flares onto the pitch which was swiftly extinguished by the stadium security.
The minor distraction, however, didn’t affect JDT as Oscar Arribas scored in the 63rd minute to make it 4-0.
JDT continued pressing and Manuel Hidalgo added their fifth goal deep into added time with a shot past subsititue goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat who replaced Damien Lim.
JDT coach Xisco Munoz credited their FA Cup success to club owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim for providing the team with the best facilities and support.
“It’s the final, only before this against Selangor in a final, the club had a big win but the other finals, it has always been tight,” said Xisco in the post-match press conference.
Meanwhile, Man of the Match Manuel Hidalgo said it’s an honour to win the FA Cup.
“I thank the coach and the team for the opportunity to play in the final. I have been in Malaysia for five years, I have seen the stadium and wanted to play here and I’m happy to win the FA Cup here,” he said.
The win saw JDT equal the record of Selangor and Kedah as the team with the most FA Cup titles, with five trophies as well as becoming the first team to defend the trophy four years in a row.
JDT lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 2016 before setting a record as the first team to win the FA Cup for three consecutive seasons after defending the championship starting in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
