ISKANDAR PUTERI: Super League defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) kicked off their 2020 campaign on a high note after defeating 2019 FA Cup champions Kedah 1-0 in a match to wrest the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium yesterday.
The sole goal of the match, through defender Brazilian Mauricio dos Santos Nascimento at the end of the first half, saw the Southern Tigers winning the trophy for the third consecutive time since 2018. JDT also won the cup in 2015 and 2016.
All the sweeter, Mauricio was crowned the Player of the Match.
Playing in front of 34,000 supporters, JDT went on attack mode from the first whistle but the Red Eagles’ backline was ably led by Singapore international Shakir Hamzah.
Nevertheless, the endless onslaught launched eventually bore fruit after Mauricio headed in a pass from Gonzalo Cabrera.
Subsequently, both teams exchanged attacks but failed to score until the whistle.