Selangor FC took a giant step towards the Piala FA 2025/26 quarterfinals after defeating A1 League side Malaysian University 3-1 in the Round of 16 first leg at the MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya.
The Red Giants made their intentions clear from the opening whistle. Captain Faisal Halim opened the scoring in just the 4th minute, settling the nerves of the home supporters. Not long after, Cape Verde forward Alvin Fortes doubled the lead in the 24th minute with a clinical finish to underline Selangor’s attacking dominance.
Malaysia University, led by captain Zharif Nazhan, struggled to contain the relentless waves of Selangor’s attacks but did show flashes of danger. In the 34th minute, they almost pulled one back with a close-range header, only to be denied by goalkeeper Samuel Somerville.
Faisal Halim, in inspirational form, struck again just before halftime to give Selangor a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the break.
In the second half, head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi introduced Harry Danish for Mukhairi Ajmal to add more attacking spark. Malaysia University, however, began to find their rhythm, registering two half-chances early on.
The Red Giants, urged on by the passionate Ultras Selangor, continued pressing but were stunned in the 84th minute when Aiman Danial netted for the visitors to make it 3-1.
Despite the late setback, Selangor held firm and now take a two-goal advantage into the second leg of the FA Cup Round of 16.
With Faisal Halim’s leadership and Alvin Fortes’ firepower, Selangor look well-placed to book their spot in the quarterfinals – but will need to stay sharp to avoid any surprises in the return fixture.
Credit Photo : SFC