SHAH ALAM: Johor Darul Ta’zim etched their name into Malaysia Cup folklore by winning the trophy for the first time with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Kedah in the final at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday.
From the moment Aidil Zafuan Radzak headed the four-time Super League champions in front in the third minute, the Malaysia Cup was destined for the south for the first time since 1991.
Gonzalo Cabrera sealed the victory exactly an hour later as Kedah, champions last year, had no answer to the might of Darul Ta’zim and barely troubled goalkeeper Izham Tarmizi Roslan.
“This Malaysia Cup win is the first in our history, so you can imagine how happy we are, including players and supporters,” said Morais.
“It was a good game with good atmosphere with great support for both teams.
“Tonight we showed the people why JDT won the Super League and why we deserve this Malaysia Cup.
We started very well with a lot of chances to score and a good reaction in the second half from Kedah but our players could cope with anything even though we suffered at times because Kedah had a few chances.
“In the end we think we deserve this moment because we played well most of the time.”
Darul Ta’zim left the likes of Mohammed Ghaddar and Darren Lok on the bench while Amirulhadi Zainal did not make the squad as Ahmad Hazwan Bakri and Gary Steven Robbat made surprise starts.
gn4id:27496331
“I know people are surprised with our selection but we have 27 players and we tell them everyone can play in first XI,” said Morais.
“We chose differently for this game and they showed we were right.”
Baddrol Bakhtiar rattled the frame of the Darul Ta’zim goal twice in the second half but coach Nidzam Adzha Yusof’s FA Cup winners never got any closer to scoring.
“We prepared and expected Darul Ta’zim to use set pieces and it happened so early in the game that it threw us off our game and concentration,” said Nidzam.
“Our performance was good and matched the opponents but mistakes against such a strong team will be punished. I’m happy with the way the players played.”
It was not until the last 12 minutes that Nidzam sent on Farhan Roslan, Akram Mahinan and Fitri Omar to change the course of the game.
“After going down 2-0 we needed fresh legs and attack from the flanks with pace but luck was not on our side,” said Nidzam.
“We could not create enough chances but we reached a high level and gave them a fight. But when you get your chance you need to make use of it.”
Darul Ta’zim pressed Kedah from the start and Safiq Rahim’s third-minute corner was headed in by Aidil for his first goal of the season.
Kedah goalkeeper Ifwat Akmal Chek Kassim saved from Gabriel Guerra when the ball hit his face in the 22nd minute to prevent the Argentine from making it 2-0 while at the other Darul Ta’zim custodian Izham floored Ken Ilso outside the box but no action was taken.
Baddrol saw his header tipped on to the bar by Izham in the 56th minute just seconds after Syazwan Zainon’s attempted cross hit Darul Ta’zim right-back S. Kunanlan’s hand with the referee waving play on.
Darul Ta’zim put the game to bed in the 63rd minute when Ahmad Hazwan Bakri’s cross was deflected to Cabrera who volleyed in off the far post although Ifwat got a hand to it.
Baddrol spurned a chance to bring Kedah back into the game as he struck the post from Sandro Mendonca’s pass in the 67th minute after Liridon Krasniqi quickly took a free-kick.