Defending champions Kuala Lumpur were held to a scoreless draw by Johor in the Group A match of the Tun Razak Cup at the MPMBB Stadium in Bukit Serindit thus evening.
The result throws the group wide open as all four teams, KL, Johor, ATM and Penang can make the cut for the semis.
This us due to the fact that Armed Forces were held to a 2-2 draw by a fighting Penang side.
KL hold the edge as they have 4 points, the same as ATM while Johor and Penang have a point each.
Johor adopted a defensive strategy, having almost the entire team behind the ball for most part of the match.
But KL could not even find a way through via penalty corners despite having the nations two top strikers from that department in the likes of Mohd Amin Rahim and Mohd Razie.
And KL were guilty of being too hasty thus muffing several good build ups that fizzled in the last quarter of the pitch.
The draw however was not good for both teams as ATM could have booked a spot in the semis had they won while it made the task more difficult for Penang to qualify for the semis as they have to depend on the outcome of other matches.
ATM took the lead twice in the match but Penang fought back on both occasions to draw level thus leaving both teams still with a chance to make the semis.
Mohd Zulkifli Abdullah gave ATM the lead in the 6th minute but the islanders were on level terms four minutes later through the effort of Izwan Firdaus Tajuddin. It was Izwan's third goal in two matches.
ATM went 2-1 ahead in the 46th minute when Muhammad Azri Hassan slipped the ball through the pads of the onrushing Penang keeper Mohd Nazih Nawang.
But the constant pressure by Penang paid dividends as they netted the equalizer in the 60gh minute via Mohd Rashid Bahrom.
Penang needs to defeat Johor in their final match on Tuesday to make the semis and hope that Armed Forces fail to beat KL.
