Kuching City booked their place in the Piala FA Malaysia 2025/26 semi-finals after defeating Terengganu FC 5–3 on aggregate, following a thrilling second-leg quarter-final clash at the Stadium Negeri Kuching.
The home side, affectionately known as The Cats, entered the match with a narrow lead from the first leg and held their ground in front of a passionate home crowd. Head coach Irfan Bakti fielded Haziq Nadzli in goal, Yuki Tanigawa anchoring the defense, and Ronald Ngah Wanja leading the attacking line.
Meanwhile, Terengganu FC, aiming for a comeback, started with Syed Nasrulhaq in defense and Careca as their main striker, spearheading the Turtles’ offensive unit.
The visitors drew first blood in the 12th minute when Careca powered in a fierce strike to narrow the aggregate deficit, silencing the home fans momentarily.
However, the lead was short-lived. Kuching City responded with relentless attacking intent, and in the 32nd minute, Ronald Ngah coolly converted a penalty after Jimmy Raymond was brought down by Alif Zakaria inside the box.
Buoyed by the crowd’s roaring support, Kuching City pushed forward aggressively, seeking to widen the gap before halftime. Despite their efforts, the first half concluded with the score level at 1–1 on the night.
Terengganu ramped up the pressure after the break, needing three goals to turn the tie around. Their Brazilian forward Careca came close again in the 63rd minute, forcing a brilliant save from Haziq Nadzli, who stood tall between the posts to deny the visitors.
The Turtles continued to dominate possession in the second half, launching several dangerous attempts at goal, but Kuching City’s resilient defense refused to crumble.
As the clock ticked down, the home side maintained their composure and tactical discipline, frustrating Terengganu’s attack.
Careca added his second goal in stoppage time, but it was too late to spark a comeback, as Kuching City secured a 5–3 aggregate victory to advance to the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
The result sends Kuching City into a mouthwatering semi-final clash against powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who have been dominant in Malaysian football in recent years.
Backed by their loyal fans and inspired by this historic victory, The Cats will now turn their focus to preparing for their biggest challenge yet — facing the Southern Tigers in what promises to be a thrilling encounter at the Stadium Negeri Kuching next Tuesday.
Credit Photo : MFL
