KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 -- Malaysia Cup defending champions, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are expected to sail through to the quarter-finals as the Southern Tigers are drawn to meet newcomers, Kuching FA in the first round of the 2020 edition on Nov 6.
JDT would also probably field their second squad as the first team would be leaving for Doha, Qatar for the East Zone round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League from Nov 18 to Dec 13.
Barring any upset, JDT, the 2017 and 2019 champions will be meeting Kuala Lumpur who received a bye when drawn to meet Sabah, as the Tamadau were not given approval by the National Security Council (MKN) to fly out of Sabah now under Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which has been extended to Nov 9.
However, five-time champions Kedah and four-time champions Pahang would have to slug it for a spot in the next round.
The winners of the encounter would meet the victors of the game between 33-time champions Selangor and Melaka who are still hunting for their first title.
The closed-door draw, aired live via Malaysia Football League (MFL) Facebook, was conducted by MFL chief executive officer Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan and Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, a member of the MFL board of directors.
The draw also witnessed eight-time champions, Perak hosting Kelantan United FC, while 2020 Premier League champions and four-time champions, Penang will meet Felda United FC who would bowing out of the Malaysia League competition after failing to obtain the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) club licence for the 2021 season.
Malaysia Cup 2001 champions, Terengganu FC will face Petaling Jaya (PJ) City FC while UiTM FC and Kelantan will fight for the next round berth.
The first round is scheduled from Nov 6 to 8, followed by the quarter-finals (Nov 12 and 13), semi-finals (Nov 17) and final on Nov 22.
The oldest national cup competition in Asia has to be shortened by using a knockout format without the group stage and home and away format this season following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The top 11 Super League teams and five best Premier League sides (Not including reserve team) are eligible to compete in the Malaysia Cup this season.
List of first round draw for Malaysia Cup 2020
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1. Penang vs Felda United FC
2. UiTM FC vs Kelantan
3. JDT vs Kuching FA
4. Kuala Lumpur – ‘bye’
5. Terengganu FC vs PJ City FC
6. Perak vs Kelantan United FC
7. Kedah vs Pahang
8. Selangor vs Melaka
-- BERNAMA
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