BATU KAWAN, PENANG, Malaysia Aug 17 – Imigresen FC (IFC) took a decisive step towards the FA Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Terengganu FC (TFC) at the Penang State Stadium this afternoon. The win showcased IFC’s resilience against the formidable “Turtles” squad.
The match saw TFC start strongly, with early attempts from Yan Mabella, Azam Azmi Murad, and Saiful Jamaluddin narrowly missing the target. A potential breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Mabella’s effort was disallowed due to a foul by Engku Shakir Engku Jacob on IFC captain Rizal Ghazali. Mabella’s misfortune continued, hitting the crossbar in the 16th minute and having another goal ruled offside in the 36th.
TFC finally took the lead in the 49th minute when Mabella capitalized on a fine move involving Azam Azmi Murad and Engku Syakir. However, IFC fought back, with Rafael Holstein leveling the score at 1-1 in the 54th minute, exploiting a defensive lapse by Terengganu.
The game’s turning point came in stoppage time when IFC’s import player Elvis Kamsoba launched a solo run, setting up Joao Pedro to score the decisive goal in the 93rd minute, sealing a 2-1 victory. Despite late pressure from TFC, including a near miss from Mabella off a free kick, IFC held firm.
The result leaves IFC on the brink of the quarter-finals, while TFC will need to regroup for their next challenge.