# JDT beat Pahang 2-0 at Larkin
# Sabah edge Kelantan on away goals with a 1-0 win at Likas
Premier League’s Sabah continued their fairytale run in the Malaysia Cup competition to reach the semi-finals after a 1-0 win over Kelantan in the return-leg quarter-final match at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.
The result at Likas saw both teams tied 2-2 on aggregate after Kelantan won the first-leg in Kota Bahru 2-1 last week. Sabah rode on the away goal rule to advance to their first Malaysia Cup semi-finals since 2007.
It was a penalty for hands that took Sabah through with Serbian striker Rodoljub Paunnovic slotting home from the spot after 30 minutes. Sabah will now play the winners of the Perak-PKNS FC quarter-final tie in the semi-finals.
It was a double blow for relegated Kelantan who will ply their trade in the lower-tier Premier League next season when their Brazilian import Cristiano Santos was given the red card deep into seven minutes of added time.
“We never gave up hope despite the defeat in the first-leg in Kota Bahru. The players were highly motivated and knew that the away goal gave them an even chance to make the semi-finals,” said Sabah head coach Jelius Ating from Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru defending champions, Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) blanked Pahang 2-0 in the return-leg quarter-final match to advance 3-1 on aggregate.
The first-leg in Kuantan last week ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
International Safawi Rasid was the toast of JDT with a brace in the first and 73rd minutes to exact sweet for the Southern Tigers who were humiliated 3-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals in April.
JDT will now meet Terengganu in the two-leg semi-finals. RIZAL ABDULLAH
