The Malaysian FA Cup produced another night of knockout drama as DPMM FC and Kuala Lumpur City FC played out a breathless 3-3 draw in Bandar Seri Begawan, a result that leaves the tie hanging in the balance and both clubs facing a replay to settle their place in the next round.

Six goals, two comebacks and a string of late chances made this one of the standout fixtures of the competition so far, with the hosts twice surrendering a lead and Kuala Lumpur City twice hauling themselves back level before the final whistle brought a temporary truce to a ferociously open contest.

Match Overview

• Competition: Malaysian FA Cup
• Fixture: DPMM FC vs Kuala Lumpur City FC
• Date & Kick-off: 20 September 2026, 20:15 local time
• Venue: Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan
• Full-time score: DPMM FC 3–3 Kuala Lumpur City FC
• Outcome: Tie all square — a replay will be required to determine who advances

A Fiery Opening in Front of a Home Crowd

Playing in front of a partisan home support, DPMM FC started with the urgency of a side determined not to let a cup night slip away in their own backyard. The hosts pressed high, closed down Kuala Lumpur's midfield pair quickly, and forced a string of early corners that had the visitors penned inside their own half for the opening quarter of an hour.

The pressure told. DPMM's reward arrived when a driven cross from the right was only half-cleared, and the loose ball was lashed home from the edge of the area to send the Brunei crowd into full voice. It was exactly the start the home side had planned, and for ten minutes Kuala Lumpur looked rattled, misplacing passes and conceding possession cheaply in dangerous areas.

Kuala Lumpur City Hit Back

To their credit, Kuala Lumpur City FC responded with the composure of a squad accustomed to cup football. The City Boys gradually slowed the tempo, dropped their wing-backs deeper to stretch DPMM's press, and began to find pockets of space between the lines. The equaliser, when it came, was a model of patient build-up: a switch of play, a sharp cut-back, and a first-time finish from the penalty spot that left the goalkeeper with no chance.

Parity restored, the game opened up completely. Both sides traded counter-attacks at a furious pace, and the first half finished with the visitors on top but the scoreboard deadlocked at 1–1.

Second Half: Three Goals in a Chaotic Twenty-Minute Spell

The second half delivered the chaos that knockout football so often produces. DPMM regained the lead shortly after the restart, punishing a defensive lapse with a quick turnover and a composed finish into the far corner. Kuala Lumpur levelled again barely five minutes later, this time from a set piece that was nodded down and bundled over the line amid a scramble of bodies.

When DPMM scored a third — a curling strike from outside the box that arrowed into the top corner — it looked like the decisive moment of the night. But Kuala Lumpur City refused to fold, pushing numbers forward and grabbing a third equaliser of their own in the closing stages, converting a low cross at the near post to silence the home crowd.

Tactical Story of the Match

The game was a study in contrasting approaches. DPMM FC relied on energy and verticality, winning the ball high and attacking in three or four passes. It worked brilliantly in transition but left them exposed whenever Kuala Lumpur beat the first line of pressure.

Kuala Lumpur City FC, by contrast, were the more patient side. Their midfield controlled long stretches of possession and their wide players consistently found space behind DPMM's advanced full-backs. The visitors' willingness to keep probing — even at 3–2 down with time running out — ultimately earned them the draw, though the number of chances conceded at the other end will be a concern for the coaching staff.

Standout Performances

• DPMM's attacking midfielder: the creative hub of the home side, involved in all three goals and relentless in his pressing.
• DPMM's goalkeeper: made two important saves at 3–2 to preserve the lead for as long as he did.
• Kuala Lumpur City's central defender: struggled early but grew into the game and headed clear a series of late deliveries.
• Kuala Lumpur City's substitute forward: changed the dynamic after coming on, providing the assist for the equaliser.

What the Draw Means

Neither manager will be entirely satisfied. DPMM FC will feel they should have closed out a game they led three times, while Kuala Lumpur City will be frustrated at conceding so readily from turnovers. Yet bot