Darul Ta’zim are heading towards an early exit in the Malaysia Cup after the under strength reigning AFC Cup champions were hammered 3-0 by Perak in a Group C match in Ipoh today.
It was Darul Ta’zim biggest defeat to a local club since the 4-1 thrashing by Kelantan in Kota Baru in August, last year.
The Johor side had only one foreigner in Hariss Harun in their starting lineup and the gamble to rest the other imports turned out to be a bad move.
Xhevahir Sukaj netted his fifth goal in his sixth appearance to give Perak the lead in the 16th minute before Fazrul Hazli Kadri added a brace in the 42nd and 66th minutes. Darul Ta’zim’s S. Chanturu was sent off in the 60th minute.
In another group match, Police bounced back from a goal down to edge FA Cup finallists PKNS 2-1 at Shah Alam Stadium.
Matias Hadwa gave PKNS the lead in the eighth minute but Police replied through Guilherme De Paula’s brace in the 26th and 68th minutes to bring his total to five goals in six appearances.
Police lead the group with seven points, followed by Perak (six), Darul Ta’zim (two) and PKNS (one).
In Group B, Kelantan edged Premier League side Kuala Lumpur 1-0 in Kota Baru while Pahang reignited their campaign by edging holders Selangor 1-0 in Kuantan.
Blazhe Ilijoski scored the winning goal by converting from the penalty spot in the 50th minute to earn Kelantan three points.
A jaded Selangor fell to a Matthew Davies header in the 32nd minute to hand Pahang their first win in the Malaysia Cup. It was Davies’ first goal for Pahang since joining them in April last year.
Kelantan extend their lead in the group with seven points, three more than second place Selangor, followed by KL and Pahang, who have three points each.
In Group D, Premier League side Negri Sembilan recorded their second win in the competition by overcoming Terengganu 2-1 in Kuala Terengganu.
Bogdan Milic opened for Terengganu in the 23rd minute. However, Goran Jerkovic replied for Negri from the penalty spot in the 71st minute before Afiq Azmi headed in their winning goal in the 78th minute.
Negri’s Daniel Ting was sent off in stoppage time.
Felda United and Negri have collected six points each but the former lead the group on goal difference, followed by Malacca and Terengganu with three points each.