Kuala Lumpur City showcased their trademark resilience on Friday night, fighting back to secure a crucial 1–1 draw against Terengganu FC in the first leg of the 2025/26 Piala Malaysia quarter-finals at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, Gong Badak.
Boosted by the roar of the home faithful, Terengganu dominated the early exchanges. Their persistence paid off as early as the 16th minute when Gervane Kastaneer showcased his clinical finishing, firing past Quincy Kammeraad to hand the hosts a deserved lead.
Terengganu’s captain, Shahrul Nizam, marshaled a backline that successfully stifled the City Boys’ creative engine for much of the first half. Despite half-chances from Victor Ruiz and Zhafri Yahya, KL City headed into the interval trailing by a goal and searching for answers.
The second half saw a more proactive KL City. Head coach Miroslav Kuljanac introduced Adam Nor Azlin for Kenny Pallraj to stabilize the defense, allowing the midfield to push higher.
The turning point came late in the game with the introduction of Safawi Rasid. In a moment of high quality, the Malaysian international orchestrated a beautiful attacking move that found Nicolao Dumitru, who made no mistake in slotting home the equalizer.
The match ended in chaos during stoppage time when Terengganu’s Baqiuddin Shamsudin thought he had snatched a winner, only for the goal to be disallowed by the referee for a foul on Zhafri Yahya in the build-up.
Credit Photo : TFC
