KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Kuching City and Perak have all booked their spots in the Malaysia Cup quarterfinals after securing commanding wins in the round-of-16 tonight (Nov 30).
In a dominant display at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, JDT had no trouble dispatching KL Rovers 6-0 in the return leg match to complete a 9-0 aggregate victory.
The Southern Tigers were never threatened by their A1 Semi-Pro League opponents. KL Rovers' defender Raffi Nagoorgani handed JDT the lead after he scored an own goal in the 13th minute.
La'Vere Corbin-Ong (33rd) and Jese Rodriguez (45+3) extended JDT's lead to 3-0 before the break. Youngster Alif Mutalib (75th) scored his first goal for the senior team while Bergson Da Silva (82nd) and Mohamadou Sumareh (88th) completed the 6-0 demolition.
JDT will now await the winner of the KL City-Kedah Darul Aman clash to find out their quarterfinal opponents.
At the State Stadium in Sarawak, Kuching City advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Penang, sealing a 3-0 aggregate win.
Penang were reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute but The Cats could not break the deadlock before the break.
The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when Ivorian forward Tchetche Kipre fired home to give Kuching City the lead. Ramadhan Saifullah Usman sealed the win with a 79th minute strike.
Kuching City will next face East Malaysian rivals Sabah in what is set to be a thrilling quarter-final showdown. The first leg is set for Dec 13 and the return leg on Dec 22.
In Manjung, Perak mirrored their dominant first-leg performance against Kelantan Darul Naim, winning 3-0 at home for a resounding 6-0 aggregate victory.
The Bos Gaurus took an early lead in the ninth minute through Clayton Da Silva before Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor doubled their advantage with a 36th-minute goal.
Ariff Ar-Rasyid Ariffin scored in the 60th minute to complete the rout.
Perak will next play the winner of the Selangor vs Sri Pahang clash.
Results
Malaysia Cup, round-of-16 (2nd leg)
JDT 6 KL ROVERS 0
*JDT win 9-0 on aggregate
KUCHING CITY 2 PENANG 0
*Kuching City win 3-0 on aggregate
PERAK 3 KELANTAN DARUL NAIM 0
*Perak win 6-0 on aggregate