PETALING JAYA: For the Kedah fans, it was a heartbreaking night.
Five times FA Cup champions Kedah were booted out of the FA Cup after losing to northern rivals Penang 4-3 in a penalty shootout, after being held 2-2 in regulation time in the first-round FA Cup tie at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Wednesday (March 8).
The home side took the lead through midfielder Manuel Ott in the ninth minute when he unleashed a superb shot from outside the penalty box.
Penang equalised in the 21st minute when Giovane Gomes capitalised on a spilt save from Kalamullah Al-Hafiz.
In the second-half, the away side took the lead when Soony Saad finished off a three-pass move by unleashing a stinging shot in the 68th minute.
Ott, being the captain marvel, refused to give up when he equalised in the 89th minute with a superb shot from outside the box to make the game 2-2.
The game entered extra time, but both sides couldn't get a winner, thus leaving the tie to be decided in a penalty shootout.
Penang goalkeeper Shafiq Afifi Suhaimi was the hero when he saved two penalties from Lee Tuck and Bojan Ciger to give his side a 4-3 penalty shootout win and get to the round of 16.
In the other first round game, Pahang needed a last-minute winner to beat Perak 2-1 at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
Perak took the lead through Christian Obiozor in the 34th minute, but the away side fought back with a goal from substitute Abdul Malik Mat Ariff in the 81st minute.
Pahang broke the hearts of Perak players and fans when Stefan Brundo scored the winner in the last minute of the game with a penalty.
