Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT II) produced a breathtaking performance to clinch the Piala MFL 2024/25 title, thrashing Penang FC II 7-0 in a one-sided finale at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
With the championship on the line, Gonzalo Sanz Zaballos’ side delivered a statement performance worthy of champions—powered by a stellar cast that included senior team regulars Romel Morales, Heberty Fernandes, Shahrul Saad, and captain Shane Lowry.
Before kickoff, both sides paid tribute with a moment of silence in honour of Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
From the opening whistle, JDT II looked a class above. Brazilian sensation Gabriel Nistelrooy opened the floodgates in the 9th minute, netting his 23rd goal of the season with a clinical finish past Penang II’s goalkeeper Haziq Mukhriz Hasemuddin.
Just six minutes later, Najmudin Akmal Kamal Akmal struck to double JDT II’s lead, before Romel Morales added the third in the 22nd minute with a thunderous effort. Najmudin returned to the spotlight with his second of the night in the 27th minute, giving JDT II a commanding 4-0 lead at halftime.
The Southern Tigers returned from the break hungry for more, and it showed. Najmudin completed a magnificent hat-trick in the 50th minute, while Morales bagged his second goal ten minutes later to make it 6-0.
The carnage didn’t stop there. In the 66th minute, referee Zulkarnain Zakaria pointed to the spot, awarding JDT II a penalty. Nistelrooy stepped up with ice-cold composure, converting the seventh goal of the night and sealing a night of pure dominance.
Despite continued pressure and attempts to extend the scoreline, the match ended 7-0, sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters.
With this emphatic win, JDT II sealed the Piala MFL 2024/25 title with 53 points, edging out Selangor II by a single point in a dramatic end to the season. It also marks sweet redemption for the squad after narrowly finishing runners-up in the 2023 season.
Credit Photo : JST
