KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Kedah qualified for the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup following victories in their respective group matches on Saturday.
In Group B, former champions JDT edged PJ City FC 3-2 for their fourth win at Petaling Jaya Stadium.
The home side took a 10th minute lead through Bae Beom-geun but Safawi Rasid struck a sweet free kick to level proceedings just 14 minutes later.
Syafiq Ahmad continued his recent renaissance with a brace of goals in the 36th and 60th minute to give JDT the win.
PJ City's other goal was netted by Washington Brandao in the 59th minute.
The win gives JDT 13 points after five rounds, giving them an unassailable lead over PJ City and Perak SEDC with only one round left to play.
In another Group B match at Manjung Stadium, Perak SEDC thrashed UiTM FC 4-0 to boost their chance of reaching the knockout phase.
Giancarlo Rodrigues (10th, 85th, 87th) struck a hat-trick with Hafiz Ramdan (64th) netting the other.
In Group A, Kedah recorded a 3-2 victory over Terengganu at Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium to clinch their quarter-final berth.
Jonatan Bauman put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute but Terengganu came back with a Lee Tuck penalty in the 33rd minute.
Kedah then scored their second goal through Edgar Bernhardt in the 37th minute.
TFC thought they had found a point when Abdul Malik Ariff scored on the hour mark but Baddrol Bakhtiar clinched all three points for Kedah, four minutes before the final whistle.
Meanwhile at Shah Alam Stadium, Negri Sembilan created an upset by overcoming PKNS FC 3-1.
Goals from Ferris Danial (42nd, 56th) and Igor Luiz (90th) were enough for Negri to pick up a vital win to give them hope of reaching the next stage. Kpah Sherman’s penalty late in the first half wasn’t enough to inspire The Red Ants back into the contest.