JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<a id="testlink" href="#">Click this</a>

CSS

#testlink:active {
    color: red;
}

JavaScript

var lnk = document.getElementById('testlink');
var mousedown = false;
var timerId = null;

lnk.addEventListener('mousedown', function(e) {
    mousedown = true;
    timerId = window.setTimeout(function() {
        if (mousedown) {
            lnk.blur();
        }
    }, 500);
});
lnk.addEventListener('click', function(e) {
    mousedown = false;
    window.clearTimeout(timerId);
});