Kim Pan-gon could not have asked for a better start to life as Selangor FC head coach after guiding the Red Giants to an emphatic 5-2 Liga Super Malaysia victory over DPMM FC at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on Friday night.
Coming off a disappointing 0-2 defeat to champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) last week, Selangor responded in ruthless fashion, setting the tone early under their newly appointed tactician.
The visitors needed just five minutes to break the deadlock through prolific striker Chrigor Moraes, who once again underlined his importance to Selangor’s attacking machinery. Moraes doubled the advantage five minutes later, rising highest to head home a precise delivery from Nooa Laine, much to the delight of Pan-gon, who was only officially unveiled as Selangor’s new boss on Monday.
DPMM briefly threatened a comeback when Hakeme Yazid pulled one back in the 42nd minute, but any hopes of a revival were swiftly dashed. Just three minutes into the second half, Nooa Laine restored Selangor’s two-goal cushion with a well-taken finish in the 48th minute.
Selangor then turned on the style. Moraes completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute, showcasing his predatory instincts as the Red Giants tightened their grip on the match. DPMM did manage a second goal through Miguel Oliveira four minutes later, but it proved little more than consolation.
The night firmly belonged to Moraes, who capped a sensational performance by scoring his fourth goal in stoppage time, sealing a dominant and confidence-boosting win for Selangor in Pan-gon’s first competitive outing in charge.
The result keeps Selangor fourth in the Liga Super standings with 28 points from 14 matches, having recorded nine wins, one draw and four defeats so far.
For DPMM, the loss brought an abrupt end to their four-match winning streak, leaving the Brunei outfit seventh on 17 points.
Credit Photo : SFC
