Arif Aiman's strike hands JDT slim win in Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi scored the only goal for Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in their 1-0 win over Sabah in a highly-charged Malaysia Cup semi-final, first-leg clash at the Likas Stadium here tonight.

A total of 11 yellow cards - seven to Sabah players and four to JDT players - and one red card were flashed in the game as the Southern Tigers take a slim lead into the return leg at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Sunday (Nov 20).

JDT midfielder Muhamad Feroz Baharudin, however, will miss the return-leg clash after being sent off by referee Razlan Joffri Ali for a second bookable offence.

The Southern Tigers, who are this season’s Super League champions, came to Kota Kinabalu gunning for victory and it showed as they began the game in an aggressive fashion.

JDT’s prolific striker, Bergson Da Silva sounded an early warning when he let fly a screamer as early as in the third minute, forcing Sabah goalkeeper Damien Lim to push it out.

The visitors continued to go on the offensive and, after several near-misses, found the breakthrough when Arif Aiman beat four Sabah players before firing a left-footed shot from outside the box in the 34th minute for his first goal in the Malaysia Cup campaign.

The Southern Tigers had a good chance to double the score after the break but Bergson fluffed his line when his weak spot kick in the 59th minute was easily saved by Damien before Muhamad Feroz was given his marching orders in the 73rd minute after being shown a second yellow card for a foul.

-- BERNAMA