Pahang ended a 21-year drought to emerge champions after beating defending champions Kelantan 1-0 in the final of the Malaysia Cup competition at the Shah Alam Stadium Sunday night.

In the match, both teams exhibited a balanced pattern of play in the first half, making dangerous attacks but failed to score any goal.

Red Warriors' midfielder Indra Putra Mahayuddin failed to score in the 18th minute with a freekick from 20 metres as the ball went narrowly past the goalmouth that was tightly guarded by Khairul Azhan Khalid.

Tok Gajah squad player, R. Surrendran almost placed the team ahead in the 27th minute but the ball hit the Kelantan goal post.

Both teams tried to break the deadlock but were off target until the end of the first half.

In the second half, Argentinian import, striker Matias Ruben Conti emerged as the Tok Gajah squad's hero when he headed in the winning goal in the 58th minute from a pass by Azamuddin Mohd Akil.

The Red Warriors' effort to equalise through a powerful shot by Dickson Nwakaeme did not bear fruit when it was parried by the Pahang goalkeeper.

Kelantan failed to take advantage of its chance when a freekick by team captain Mohd Badhri Mohd Radzi in the 76th minute went wide.

Khairul Azhan once again performed excellently for the Tok Gajah team when he denied a dangerous attempt by Dickson Nwakaeme in the 84th minute.

The match ended with Pahang beating Kelantan 1-0 when referee Nagor Amir Noor Mohamed blew the whistle to end the game.

Pahang striker Azamuddin Mohd Akil was crowned as best player in the Malaysia Cup 2013 competition.

An estimated 85,000 supporters of both teams filled the stadium from 7pm in a sea of yellow and red despite the rain.