The Klang Valley derby between Selangor and KL City is the highlight of today's Malaysia Cup first leg quarter-finals. Timesport's K. Rajan previews the four matches
KEDAH v JDT
KEDAH were earlier touted as one of the favourites to reach the Malaysia Cup final, but they uncharacteristically dropped points in the group stage.
The Red Eagles took second spot in Group C with four wins and two defeats in six matches. But finishing second has led to them being pitted against 2018 Malaysia Cup champions JDT in the last eight. And it has dimmed their hopes of winning the cup for the sixth time.
Kedah look lethargic and their lack of depth make it all the more harder for the northerners to survive against the southern giants.
Kedah's last win against JDT came in the group stage of the Malaysia Cup in 2018. In the next six meetings, the Red Eagles suffered five defeats and one draw.
Kedah coach Aidil Sharin Sahak will really have to crack his head to find a way past the Super League champions who are the overwhelming favourites to win their third Malaysia Cup crown.
JDT easily topped Group D, winning all six of their matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding only one goal.
JDT's depth looks imposing as they can field two different first 11, and still win their match.
Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva, Argentinian midfielders Leandro Velazquez and Gonzalo Cabrera are a threat to any defence in the competition.
At the other end, JDT's defence is like Fort Knox. They conceded only 10 goals in the Super League and Malaysia Cup combined.
Under coach Benjamin Mora, JDT have been relentless, and the Malaysia Cup seems headed for their cabinet.
TERENGGANU v SARAWAK UTD
THE tenacious Turtles are the favourites to reach the Malaysia Cup final after a commanding show in the group stages.
The East coast side duly emerged as Group B champions with five wins and one draw in six matches.
Nafuzi Zain's men were much in the race for the Super League title, but suffered a dip in form towards the end, and finished fourth.
But the Turtles quickly got over their league slowdown to start another strong run in the Malaysia Cup.
Terengganu piled in 16 goals, the highest in the group stage, with winger Faisal Halim and midfielder Lee Tuck plundering four each.
Terengganu's main strength is their depth as they have competent people to step in whenever there are injuries to key players.
Premier League outfit Sarawak United are the outsiders in the Malaysia Cup quarter-final party after toppling heavyweight Sri Pahang and Penang to finish runners-up in Group A.
Though the Golden Hornbill are inconsistent, they managed to win three matches, draw once and lose twice.
Underrated coach E. Elavarasan has a team of quality players but their biggest issue is off the pitch. Allegations of unpaid wages seemed to have affected the team's performance.
On a good day, Sarawak United are capable of bringing the fight to any team, but in reality, they face an uphill battle to upstage Terengganu.
SELANGOR v KL CITY
THIS is a clash that has drawn much interest as this is the Klang Valley derby.
The Red Giants have won the Malaysia Cup a record 33 times while cross-city rivals KL City have won it three times. But yet Selangor can't claim to be the favourites today. The City Boys look slick and buoyant.
This is only the third time in the tournament's history that KL City and Selangor are meeting in the knockout stage. Selangor won the 1984 quarter-finals (4-1 aggregate), while KL triumphed in the 1988 semi-finals (5-4 aggregate).
In the Super League this season, they couldn't get the better of each other, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws on March 13 and July 24. Selangor finished fifth with 36 points in the Super League while KL were sixth with 33 points.
However, KL sizzled in the Malaysia Cup, emerging as Group A champions with an unbeaten record, collecting 14 points from six matches.
On the other hand, Selangor cane in second in Group B with 12 points.
KL's Colombian Romel Morales is in-form and a big threat to the Red Giants. He has piled up eight Malaysia Cup goals after being converted into a striker from midfield.
Selangor miss their injured Super League Golden Boot winner Ifedayo Omosuyi from Nigeria, but can rely on a large pool of players, including from their feeder team, Selangor FC II.
The KL defence, which has leaked only four goals in the group stage, the second-best defensive record in the competition, looks solid
However, injuries in the last two matches seem to have weakened the KL team, and that is something Selangor's German coach Karsten Neitzel will exploit.
But the Red Giants' tendency to blow hot and cold, could backfire against a good side like KL.
With bragging rights at stake, apart from a semi-final ticket, both the teams need no greater motivation to be declared as Klang Valley champions.
SABAH v MELAKA UTD
THIS is a clash which features two teams who have managed to reverse their fortunes of late.
Both Sabah and Melaka United were earlier fighting relegation battles in the Super League. Melaka finished eighth while Sabah were ninth.
Surprisingly in the Malaysia Cup group stages, both teams shifted up a gear.
Melaka were among the first teams to book a quarter-final place, thanks to attackers S. Kumahraan, Sony Norde and Brazilians Adriano Narcizo and Giovane Gomes.
Melaka also benefited (gained three walkover points) from Negri Sembilan's withdrawal from the Malaysia Cup after almost their entire team were infected by Covid-19.
And the Mousedeer wisely negotiated their Malaysia Cup group stage with impressive 3-1 and 2-0 wins over Super League runners-up Kedah.
Coach Zainal Abidin Hassan's men chalked up five wins and one draw from six matches to be the "most improved team" in the Malaysia Cup.
Melaka's financial woes seem to be a thing of the past as their players start to perform well.
Now, Melaka are optimistically seeking their first Malaysia Cup semi-final appearance since 1983.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Ong Kim Swee at Sabah last month has changed the fortunes of the struggling Rhinos.
The East Malaysians, after a slow start in the group stage with two draws and two defeats, managed to win their last two matches to pip PJ City to second place behind Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT).
Sabah are the team with the least points (eight) to qualify for the last eight, and this means the Rhinos enjoy the advantage of playing with no pressure.
In fact for Kim Swee, he is using the ongoing Malaysia Cup to prepare Sabah for next season's Super League.