28/04/2025

MONDAY | APR 28, 2025

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Team JDT pose for photos after winning the Malaysia Cup final against Sri Pahang at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Sunday night. – BERNAMAPIC Tigers roar

J OHOR DARUL TA’ZIM (JDT) achieved a triple treble when they clinched the Malaysia Cup by beating Sri Pahang FC 2 1 at National Stadium, Bukit Jalil on Saturday night. The local powerhouse has won the country’s three major footballing titles – the Super League, the FA Cup and the Malaysia Cup – in a single season thrice, completing an amazing feat known as the triple treble. Southern Tigers strikers Bergson Da Silva and Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi rose to the occasion by scoring a goal apiece in the second half to overcome the early goal by Sri Pahang scored by T. Saravanan early in the first half. JDT head coach Hector Bidoglio said the players had shown great character throughout what had been a long and challenging season for the Southern Tigers. “The players were great. I’m very happy. We had a tough and long season, working until now, and the players always played with good personalities. “I’m proud and happy the players worked well,” the Argentine coach told a post-match press conference after the match. Goalscorer Arif Aiman admitted that the Elephants gave a strong fight but JDT did not easily succumb to the pressure. He said conceding an early goal did not dampen the team’s spirit, which was firmly

game everybody celebrated because we were in the final because things might not work out for us in the final,” he after the final whistle. JDT got their equaliser less than 10 minutes after the break when an incident inside the penalty area between Sri Pahang’s Mohd Azril Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham and JDT’s Oscar Arribas let to a VAR review and referee Razlan Joffri Ali pointing to the spot, which Bergson calmly converted. Commenting on the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the match, Fandi expressed his disappointment. “For me, the VAR is a disappointment because nobody knows what’s happening, only the inside people, we can’t say good or bad. “I won’t say anything but whether it’s a fair call or not fair call I can’t say. I think you all know but what can we say,” he said, declining to comment further on the officiating quality. Sri Pahang FC defender Adam Nor Azlin feels despite the defeat, this season has been a massive achievement for the Elephants. “Although we lost, we feel that having reached the final is already an achievement. That’s why we fought from the start to the end. “We are definitely disappointed that we lost but that’s the name of the game… sometimes you play well but you still lose and sometimes you play badly but still end up winning,” said the former JDT player. – Bernama

JDT complete triple treble with Malaysia Cup win over Sri Pahang

Aguero and JDT defender Park Jun Heong. Sri Pahang FC head coach Fandi Ahmad said that the 2024/2025 Malaysia Cup semifinal clash against Sabah FC was in many ways, their true “final.” The former Pahang and Singapore striker added that his team celebrated reaching the final as they believed luck might not be on their side in the ultimate showdown. “They (players) were committed to this (final) because we didn’t do well in the league... this year we were supposed to fight for the top three but things happened along the way and thereafter we knew our fight was for the (Malaysia) Cup. “Actually, the semifinal match against Sabah FC was our final, this one is a bonus. After that

focused on winning the prestigious title for a third consecutive time. “Sri Pahang gave a tough fight but we kept playing with full effort even when trailing 1-0. “We believed the goals would come, and not just myself, the entire team worked hard to equalise, and the second goal came because we really wanted to win this match,” he said. Arif Aiman expressed his determination to further elevate his career to the highest level. “At my age now, I just have to work hard. I need to forget about any other lifestyle. I must focus on building my career and continuing to improve. That is all,” said the 22-year-old player. The high-intensity final saw both teams reduced to 10 men after referee Razlan Joffri Ali showed red cards to Sri Pahang striker Sergio

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