KUALA LUMPUR: Last year's finalists Selangor survived an astonishing second-half collapse on Sunday to squeeze into the FA Cup semi-finals on aggregate.
At the MBPJ Stadium, Selangor booked their ticket to the final four with a 6-4 aggregate victory despite suffering a 3-2 defeat on the night against Star City.
Carrying a 4-1 cushion from their first-leg win in Kangar on Sept 19, Kim Pan Gon's Red Giants initially looked in control.
Defender Zikri Khalili headed home the opener in the ninth minute before Brazilian attacker Vitor Pernambuco doubled the advantage in the 33rd minute to put Selangor 2-0, and 6-1 ahead on aggregate.
However, the game turned on its head following a controversial flashpoint five minutes before the break. Star City midfielder Moses Atede struck Zikri in the neck, but to the disbelief of the home crowd, a lengthy VAR review saw the referee issue only a yellow card.
Spurred on by the reprieve, Mehmed Durakovic's charges launched an incredible second-half fightback. Atede sparked the comeback by pulling a goal back in the 61st minute, before Pedro Santos levelled the match at 2-2 with a 75th-minute strike.
With Selangor reeling, Ramon Machado completed the turnaround in the 90th minute to hand Star City a dramatic 3-2 victory. Selangor's first-leg advantage proved sufficient to preserve their aggregate lead and secure their place in the semi-finals.
But there was no escape for 2023 finalists KL City, who suffered a quarter-final exit at home against a heroic 10-man DPMM FC.
KL City suffered disappointment at the KLFA Stadium. Following a 3-3 draw in the first leg in Bandar Seri Begawan, the City Boys were hoping to finish the job in Cheras.
Instead, DPMM stunned the hosts inside 11 minutes when Australian striker Jordan Murray finished clinically to put the Bruneian side 1-0 up, and 4-3 ahead on aggregate.
The tie appeared to swing in KL City's favour deep into first-half stoppage time when DPMM defender Tommy Mawat was shown a straight red card after his high boot caught Fazrul Amir in the midsection during an aerial duel.
Yet, despite playing the entire second half with a numerical advantage, Datuk Dollah Salleh's men couldn't find an equaliser. DPMM defended resolutely with 10 men, frustrating the home side and preserving their 1-0 lead to seal a 4-3 aggregate victory.
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