Johor Darul Ta’Zim make ‘Quadruple’ trophy in this season after beating Sri Pahang FC scoring 2-1 in the Unifi Piala Malaysia 2024/25 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
The victory sees the Southern Tigers continue their unprecedented dominance, sweeping all four major domestic titles – the Contribution Cup, FA Cup, Super League, and now the Malaysia Cup – a feat they have remarkably repeated for the third consecutive season following their successes in 2022 and 2023.
JDT’s win also served as sweet revenge, finally erasing the pain of their 2014 Malaysia Cup final defeat to Sri Pahang, ending an 11-year wait for redemption against their East Coast rivals.
However, the final was far from a walkover for the star-studded JDT squad. They were stunned early when T. Saravanan fired Sri Pahang into a shock lead in the 14th minute, sending the Tok Gajah faithful into raptures.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 34th minute when Sri Pahang’s hopes suffered a major blow. Sergio Aguero was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, forcing Sri Pahang to battle the remaining hour with just 10 men.
Taking full advantage, JDT pressed forward relentlessly and were awarded a crucial penalty in the 54th minute after VAR confirmed a foul by Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham on Oscar Arribas. Bergson da Silva stepped up confidently to slot home the equalizer, reigniting JDT’s charge.
Yet, drama continued to unfold as JDT themselves were reduced to 10 men just three minutes later when Park Jun Heong was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Mykola Ahapov, leveling the numbers on the field once again.
Despite the setback, Hector Bidoglio’s men showed their champion mentality. Arif Aiman Hanapi, the four-time Malaysia League Most Valuable Player (MVP), emerged as the hero in the 74th minute, coolly finishing to put JDT 2-1 ahead, sending their fans among the 55,552-strong crowd into delirium.
Arif’s decisive goal not only secured JDT’s victory but cemented his legendary status within Malaysian football, once again proving why he is regarded as the heartbeat of the Southern Tigers.
Tonight’s triumph symbolizes JDT’s continued reign as the supreme force in Malaysian football, driven by their relentless pursuit of excellence and an unshakable winning culture.
Credit Photo : JST
