After going eight years without silverware in England, Jamaica international Damion Stewart says he's "relieved and happy" to be on course to claim his third major Malaysian trophy in just 12 months -- despite being red-carded in Pahang's dramatic Malaysia Cup quarterfinal victory on Saturday.
The former QPR defender received his marching orders six minutes from full-time with the tie against PDRM FC level at 2-2 on aggregate at the Shah Alam Stadium, near Kuala Lumpur. But just as the game seemed headed for extra time, substitute Fauzi Roslan produced a stoppage-time winner for the defending champions.
Pahang will play Kedah in the semifinals after the second division side upset George Boateng's Kelantan 4-3 on aggregate in another quarterfinal, via a 3-0 second leg win at Alor Setar.
The 34-year-old Stewart received a second yellow card for a foul on Ali Ashfaq just seven minutes after his fellow central defender, and ex-QPR teammate, Zesh Rehman had equalised with a header from a corner -- his third goal of the season.
"You could see from my reaction that I was very angry but at the same time surprised and confused," Stewart told ESPN FC. "I don't think I deserved a second yellow card for a foul of that manner. I committed three fouls in the game and got two yellow cards. If that's the ratio of cards per foul for simple tackles, maybe it means that I need to stop playing."
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Stewart, who has earned 57 caps for Jamaica since 1999, feared the worst for 10-man Pahang against the dangerous PDRM, playing in front of their home fans. But he felt a burden lift off his shoulders as Zainal Abidin Hassan's side dug deep to win in his absence thanks to Fauzi's late heroics.
"I wasn't able to watch the end of the game but I stood as close as possible to the pitch so I could get a sense of what was happening," he said. "After the final whistle when I realised that we were through, I was happy and relieved at the same time.
"I will be suspended for the first leg of the semifinal against Kedah but as it stands I will be available for the second leg at home in Kuantan."
Playing in an English League Cup game against Premier League side Aston Villa in 2008, Stewart produced a headed goal against Gareth Barry, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Co. to send then second-tier QPR through to the fourth round with a shock 1-0 victory at Villa Park.
But he says that lifting the Malaysia Cup, Charity Shield Malaysia and Malaysia FA Cup with Pahang over a seven-month period represents some of his happiest football memories.
"Winning the Malaysia Cup last year was such a sweet feeling as I had not won a trophy for the eight years I played in England at four different clubs," he said. "It would bring great pleasure to me and my team to defend the title because we want to make a statement that we are there to challenge and hopefully win every competition we take part in."