Armed forces, Pahang seal Malaysia Cup semi-final berths

The Armed Forces and Pahang booked Malaysia Cup semi-final berths after defeating their opponents in the quarter-finals on goal difference.

The Armed Forces avenged their 0-1 defeat at the hands of Lions XII in Singapore on Saturday to beat the visitors 4-1 in the second leg quarter-finals at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium here Friday night.

Armed Forces, who qualified for the semi-finals with a 4-2 aggregate win, shot into the lead with an own goal by Lions XII's Hariss Harun in the 23rd minute due to a defensive error.

In his attempt to clear a cross from Armed Forces striker Marlon Alex James, Harris deflected the ball into the goal as it slipped from Lions XII's goalkeeper's hands.

The Gladiators striker Marlon Alex James increased the lead in the 33rd minute to make it 2-0 at halftime.

Lions XII clawed back into the game at the outset of the second half to reduce the deficit in the 49th minute through Muhammad Hafiz Abu Sujad's stinging shot.

Marlon Alex James became the toast of the Armed Forces when he scored two more goals in 75th and 83rd minutes to complete a hattrick.

Two-time champions Pahang edged Selangor PKNS FC 2-1 at the Stadium Shah Alam to make it to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win.

Pahang opened scoring from the penalty spot by Matias Ruben Conti in the 28th minute before Azamuddin Mohd Akil made it 2-0 in the 60th minute.

Selangor PKNS FC's consolation goal came in five minutes later through Muhammad Khairu Azrin.