Selangor FC, a club from Malaysia earned first 3 points after beating Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, a club from Philippines scoring 1-0 in the AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 Group Stage, Group H at MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya.
Despite the slick and challenging conditions, Selangor adapted swiftly, displaying fluid passing and sharp movement that paid off as early as the 10th minute. Ronnie Fernandez, known for his creative flair, delivered a perfectly timed cutback from the left flank, allowing Venezuelan striker Juan Orozco to slot the ball home and give Selangor the lead.
Orozco was a constant thorn in Cebu’s defense, finding space to shoot on several occasions. His first attempt sailed wide of the target, but his second effort in the 26th minute tested Cebu goalkeeper Florencio Badelic, who pulled off a fantastic save to keep his team in contention.
Selangor piled on the pressure for the remainder of the first half, with Noor Al Rawabdeh and Fernandez both coming close to doubling the lead, only to be thwarted by Badelic’s superb goalkeeping. The Cebu shot-stopper was a standout performer, keeping his side in the game despite Selangor’s overwhelming dominance.
Cebu head coach Mustafa Ati made two substitutions at the start of the second half, introducing Ryoo Togashi and Masaya Kobayashi in a bid to turn the tide. However, the changes did little to disrupt Selangor’s control of the match, as the home side continued to dictate play.
Alvin Fortes was the next Selangor player to threaten the Cebu goal, unleashing two powerful shots from distance that narrowly missed the mark. Selangor’s relentless attack kept Cebu on the defensive, struggling to create meaningful chances of their own.
With the game still hanging in the balance, Selangor head coach Nidzam Jamil handed debuts to two of the club’s recent signings. Croatian midfielder Nikola Jambor and Jordanian defender Mohammad Abualnadi were brought on in the final 10 minutes, adding fresh legs to Selangor’s dominant display.
Despite their continued efforts, the scoreline remained unchanged, and Selangor held firm to claim a well-deserved 1-0 victory, earning their first three points in the group stage.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
