KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — Selangor FC last night bowed to Sabah FC, which created history by qualifying for the FA Cup final for the first time by defeating Selangor 5-4 via a penalty shootout after being tied 5-5 on aggregate, at the end of the second leg semi-final at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium.
Just like the first leg that ended in a 2-2 draw, today’s fierce clash saw the score tied at 3-3 after 120 minutes of play, although Selangor finished the match with 10 men when Diarra Mamadou was shown the red card during second-half injury time.
Goalkeeper Damien Lim emerged the visitors’ hero when he saved two attempts from Selangor’s Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar and Mohammad Abualnadi, redeeming an earlier mistake by his teammate Ajdin Mujagic, who failed to convert a penalty.
Earlier, Faisal Halim put the Red Giants, who were forced to play without spectators, ahead in the 33rd minute before Dane Ingham equalised two minutes after the break.
Selangor regained the lead through Chrigor Moraes’ finish in the 51st minute, but Sabah managed to bounce back and level the score when Mujagic netted the team’s second goal in the 62nd minute.
Faisal once again put Selangor FC ahead in the 73rd minute before Sabah FC managed to equalise again after Mujagic converted a penalty in the 88th minute.
In the final, Sabah FC will face reigning champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who advanced with a 4-1 aggregate victory after defeating Kuching City FC 2-0 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor in the other second leg semi-final.
JDT’s opening goal came in the 25th minute when Bergson Da Silva finished a neat move resulting from a combination between Oscar Arribas and Corbin-Ong, giving the home side the advantage.
The Southern Tigers squad then had several chances to extend their lead but failed to find the finishing touch and were denied by the excellent performance of Kuching City goalkeeper Muhammad Haziq Nadzli.
However, the squad led by Xisco Munoz finally sealed the victory with a second goal when Eddy Israfilov capitalised on a pass from Samuel Castillejo in the 82nd minute, thus giving JDT a chance to defend the title for the fourth consecutive time.
