Piala FA: Selangor Reach Semi-Final on Aggregate Despite 3-2 Defeat to Star City
Five-time FA Cup winners Selangor FC will go in search of a sixth title after reaching the semi-finals, even though they lost 3-2 to Star City FC in the quarter-final second leg at Stadium MBPJ, Petaling Jaya.
The defeat was a surprise for Kim Pan Gon’s side. They go through 6-4 on aggregate, thanks to a 4-1 win in the first leg away from home.
Selangor arrived with a three-goal lead. They won the first leg 4-1 at Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium in Kangar on September 19, with Chrigor Moraes scoring a hat-trick and Pernambuco adding the other goal. Star City’s only goal that night came from midfielder Moses Atede. Selangor had reached the quarter-finals by beating Sabah FC 4-3 on aggregate, while Star City had beaten Kedah FA 4-2.
Selangor did not wait long to take control of the second leg. Zikri Khalili put the hosts ahead in the ninth minute. The early goal gave the Red Giants control of the match and left Star City needing to score at least four more to overturn the tie.
Selangor doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Syahir Bashah played a long pass, and import striker Vitor Pernambuco timed his run to beat the offside trap. The Brazilian then faced the defence and calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-0.
The goal made things harder for Star City, coached by Mehmed Durakovic, who now needed a big comeback to stay in the tie.
The visitors recovered after the break, and Selangor’s defence loosened. In the 61st minute Moses Atede scored again. He had also scored in the first leg. This time he was left unmarked in the penalty area after a good move from a free kick outside the box.
Selangor’s mistakes then added to their problems. In the 74th minute Makrillos Peter failed to control the ball at the edge of the box, and Pedro Santos Filho took it off him and equalised on the night to make it 2-2.
Selangor’s defence continued to give chances away. In the 90th minute Ramon Machado scored Star City’s third. It gave the visitors a 3-2 win and a landmark result, their first win over Selangor, but they were too far behind on aggregate.
Selangor now face a difficult semi-final against Kuching City FC. Kuching reached the last four by beating Kelantan City 4-1 on aggregate, with Ajdin Mujagic scoring a hat-trick in the second leg on Saturday.
The two clubs have met recently in the knockout rounds. Kuching City beat Selangor in last season’s Malaysia Cup semi-final, winning the second leg 1-0 for a 2-1 aggregate win. The other FA Cup semi-final is between holders Johor Darul Ta’zim and DPMM FC.
Credit Photo : SFC
