TFC Fail To Secure Advantage On Home Turf As KL City Manage 1-1 Draw

KUALA NERUS, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Terengganu FC (TFC) failed to secure a comfortable lead for the second leg of the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after being held to a 1-1 draw by Kuala Lumpur City FC (KL City FC) in the first leg at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium (SSMZA) tonight.

The first half saw the home side start aggressively, with an early threat in the fourth minute when their Brazilian import defender, Careca, launched a half-volley that narrowly missed the target.

Jolted by the early scare, the visiting team took control of the possession and attempted several counter-attacks, but they initially struggled to penetrate the Turtles' defensive line.

In the 16th minute, the squad under the guidance of Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan stunned The City Boys as Gervane Kastaneer fired a shot from outside the penalty box to give TFC a 1-0 lead.

As the second half resumed, Risto Vidakovic’s men had a golden opportunity to level the score in the 47th minute, but Victor Ruiz’s shot sailed high over the crossbar. However, that disappointment was short-lived as Swedish-born midfielder Nicolao Dumitru scored the equaliser for the visitors in the 84th minute, silencing the more than 5,500 hostile home fans.

Refusing to back down, TFC almost clinched a late victory during injury time, but a goal by Mohamad Baqiuddin Shamsudin was disallowed by the referee due to a foul committed prior to the strike.

-- BERNAMA