Kuala Lumpur City strike back to reach Quarter-Final round after beating Kedah Darul Aman scoring 4-1 in the Unifi Piala Malaysia 2024/25 Round of 16, second leg at KLFA Stadium, Cheras.
The emphatic victory overturned a narrow 2-3 aggregate deficit to seal a 6-4 win over two legs, sending the hosts into the next stage in style.
KL City wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Just 18 minutes into the match, they had already erased Kedah’s advantage with two goals in quick succession. Team captain Paulo Josue showcased his trademark precision with a sublime free-kick in the 14th minute to level the aggregate at 3-3.
Four minutes later, Jovan Motika capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home a second goal, turning the aggregate in KL City’s favor at 4-3. The stadium erupted as the hosts took control of the tie.
Before the break, Ryan Lambert added to Kedah’s misery, scoring in the 41st minute with a well-placed finish that extended KL City’s aggregate lead to 5-3. With a two-goal cushion heading into the second half, KL City appeared poised to cruise into the quarter-finals.
Kedah showed resilience in the second half, pressing forward in search of goals. Their persistence paid off in the 73rd minute when Milos Gordic found the back of the net, narrowing the aggregate score to 5-4 and reigniting hopes of a dramatic comeback.
However, KL City’s defense stood firm under pressure, repelling Kedah’s subsequent attacks.
In the dying moments of the game, Zhafri Yahya dashed any hopes Kedah had of forcing extra time. The midfielder struck KL City’s fourth goal of the night, sealing the match at 4-1 and confirming a 6-4 aggregate triumph.
Credit Photo : Hafiz/SNE-Photo
