Nwakaeme's goal give Pahang FA Cup victory for second time

Pahang ended an eight year wait to win the FA Cup for the second time after edging Felda United FC (FUFC) 2-1 in the final at the Shah Alam Stadium here tonight.

The Elephants' Nigerian import , Dickson Nwakaeme was the hero for Pahang when his goal in the 88th minute gave them victory after both teams were tied at 1-1.

Pahang who are also Malaysia Cup defending champions won their maiden FA Cup title in 2006 after defeating Perlis 4-2 in a penalty shootout when 120 minutes of play in the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur ended in a 0-0 draw.

In tonight's final, Pahang started more aggressively came close to scoring as early as the sixth minute but Nwakaeme's shot sailed above the crossbar.

However, slackness in defence caused them to be punished when 'The Fighters' prolific striker, Edward Junior Wilson opened scoring in the 22nd minute, much to the delight of their 10,000-odd fans present.

Not expecting the club side to take the upperhand, Pahang coached by Zainal Abidin Hassan tightened their act and almost equalised in the 38th minute but Azidan Sarudin's header from a cross supplied by Azamuddin Mohd Akil hit the woodwork.

On resumption, both teams went all out but luck was on Pahang's side when their substitute player Mohd Faizol Hussein fired a piledriver that sailed in to the top left corner of the FUFC net, causing rapturous appreciation from 50,000 supporters who had come to cheer the team.

With the match in the dying minutes of regulation play and extra time looming, Nwakaeme made all the difference when his shot found the mark to ensure Pahang went home with the prestigious trophy and dissapointed FUFC, who had wanted to be the first club side to clinch it.

Not only that, Mohd Faizol was also picked "Man-of-the-Match". The FA Cup was presented by FA of Pahang president Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is also Tengku Muda Pahang, to Pahang captain, Mohd Razman Roslan.