Selangor FA's confidence has received a boost prior to the crucial Malaysia Super League (MSL) clash this weekend against early high fliers PDRM FA following Saturday's FA Cup win against Felda United on penalties, taking them to the last 16 stage.
Mehmet Durakovic's team were 2-0 down late in the second half at Selayang Stadium but dug deep to restore parity at 2-2 in regular time. With both teams unable to break the deadlock in extra time, the game was decided on penalties with the Red Giants winning 4-2 in the shoout.
Hosts Felda have made a flying start to the season and are joint MSL leaders with seven points from their three matches. Irfan Bakti's team continued in the same vein and got the lead in the 47th minute when Serbian centre-back Bojan Miladinovic slotted in a penalty. The Fighters needed just four minutes to double their lead through former Perth Glory striker Ndumba Makeche.
With the clock ticking fast, it appeared that Selangor had extended their frustrating start to the season with no victories from their three MSL games. However, forward Ahmad Hazwan Bakri pulled one back in the 78th minute and with just two minutes of regular time remaining Brazil-born striker Guillerme De Paula scored the equaliser.
However, the game was far from over and a resurgent Selangor were reduced to 10 men during extra time when Indonesian winger Andik Vermansyah was sent off for stamping on Felda defender Firdaus Faudzi.
During the shootout, Makeche and Edward Wilson missed for Felda and Miladinovic and Shahrulnizam Mustapa scored.
For Selangor, Guillerme, Abdul Hadi Yahya, K. Gurusamy and former Australia defender Robert Cornthwaite were all on target.
2013 MSL champions LionsXII expectedly brushed aside FAM League side Melayu Kedah 4-0 at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar. Afiq Yunus gave Fandi Ahmad's side the lead in the 36th minute. Sahil Suhaimi scored in the 47th and 84th minutes and Gabriel Quak was on target in the 62nd minute.
Malaysia Premier League side T-Team claimed the biggest upset of the second round after thrashing MSL side Armed Forces FA (ATM) 3-0 in extra time at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.
After regular time ended goalless, the Titans came alive in extra time. Their Uzbekistan striker Farhod Tadjiev scored a brace and Mohd Safawi Rasid added a third condemning ATM to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.
At the Pasir Gudang Stadium, hosts Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) II edged eight-man PKNS 2-1.
Skipper Shahril Ishak was the hero for JDT II as he fired home the winner in the 92nd minute to set up a meeting with Kedah FA in the last 16.
Japanese striker Keisuke Ogawa's first-minute goal gave PKNS the lead but JDT II drew level through Leandro Velazquez in the 61st minute.
PKNS were reduced to 10 men when Muhd Khairu Azrin Khazali was sent off in the 65th minute. Two more of their players -- Liberian striker Patrick Wleh and Mohd Fazli Baharuddin -- were shown the red card deep into extra time.
At the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan, MSL joint leaders Perak FA beat FAM League outfit Shahzan Muda 3-1. South Korean forward Namgung Woong bagged a brace in the fifth and 48th minutes with Brazilian midfielder Marco Tulio chipping in with a goal in the 46th minute.
Shahzan Muda's consolation goal was scored by Sukri Jaafar in the 28th minute.
Brazilian striker Paulo Rangel bagged a brace to help east coast side Terengganu knock out FAM League minnows Malacca 3-1 at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca. Rangel's goals came in the 52nd and 72nd minutes after Abdul Manaf Mamat had given the Turtles the lead in the 47th minute.
Nurshamil Abdul Ghani converted a spot kick in the 88th minute for Malacca's consolation goal.
Premier League sides Penang and SPA Putrajaya also advanced to the last 16 stage of the competition by defeating FAM League side Perlis and Premier League team Kuantan FA respectively.