KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- FA Cup defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) are as good as through to the next round after downing UM-Damansara United 4-1 in the first leg of their first-round tie at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI) in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, today.
Taking to the field as the visiting team after UM-Damansara United requested a change of venue, the Southern Tigers took just three minutes to open the scoring from a spot kick.
The referee pointed to the spot when JDT's Jonathan Silva was fouled by Muhammad Ghaffar Abdul Rahman in the box, and Jairo Da Silva stepped up to beat goalkeeper Muhammad Azfar Arif Mohd Sukri.
The Southern Tigers, totally in control, upped the tempo to extend their lead to 3-0 with two more goals through Daniel Castro in the 29th minute and Manuel Hidalgo in the 42nd minute.
Hidalgo then made it 4-0 after the break when he let fly a screamer from outside the box in the 53rd minute.
UM-Damansara United, however, managed to score a consolation goal in the 90th minute through Muhammad Amirul Akmal Safarinizam, whose attempt rocked the post before he pounced on the rebound to slot home.
The teams will meet in the return leg match at the same venue on Sept 8.
Over at the Manjung Municipal Council Stadium, Perak FA failed to capitalise on their home ground advantage, going down 1-0 to Kuala Lumpur City FC (KL City) in their first-leg clash.
Perak were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute when substitute Firdaus Fuad was shown the red card for a foul.
KL City finally broke the deadlock in the 86th minute when they were awarded a penalty, which Paulo Josue calmly netted to give the visitors a one-goal cushion ahead of the return-leg match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras on Sept 9.
More news to follow.
-- BERNAMA