KUALA NERUS, Nov 22 — Selangor are through to the Malaysia Cup final after a 3-2 aggregate win despite losing 1-0 to Terengganu FC (TFC) in their semi-final, return-leg clash at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium here last night.
The title showdown at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday (Nov 26) is set to be a blockbuster as 33-time record champions Selangor will try to stop current Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) from completing a clean sweep of domestic titles, having won the Super League and FA Cup.
In tonight’s match, hosts TFC, trailing 1-3 after the first leg, made their intentions known early with two good attempts.
First, skipper Kipre Tchetche fired a shot just over the crossbar in the 12th minute before teammate Manuel Ott saw his attempt sail just wide off the mark in the 22nd minute.
But it wasn’t all TFC as the Red Giants also missed a good chance in the 13th minute when striker Herlison Calon piledriver, after receiving a pass from Htet Aung, also flew just wide off the left post.
TFC, however, managed to narrow the aggregate score to 2-3 when Tchetche slotted home a pass from Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim in the 35th minute.
Buoyed, TFC went all out looking for a second goal to tie the aggregate score but Mohamad Faisal’s effort was thwarted by Selangor custodian Mohd Khairulazhan Mohd Khalid just one minute later.
After the break, the Turtles continued in the same vein and thought they had levelled the aggregate score when Tchetche found the net in the 56th minute, only for it to be disallowed for offside.
Although an additional seven minutes of injury time was added on, the Turtles failed to breach the Selangor backline, leaving the Red Giants to celebrate well into the night as they get ready to take on JDT on Saturday.
The Red Giants last played in the Malaysia Cup final in 2016, losing to Kedah 6-5 on penalties after both teams were tied 1-1 in regulation time. — Bernama
