PETALING JAYA, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Despite being reduced to 10 men, Selangor FC proved their mettle by defeating defending champions PDRM FC 3-2 in the Final 1 match of the Challenge Cup at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium tonight.
The Red Giants wasted no time making their intentions clear when Alvin Mateus Fortes scored the opening goal from a Ronnie Fernandez assist in the third minute.
However, their joy was short-lived as, just seven minutes later (11th minute), Selangor FC captain Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin was shown a red card following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review confirming a foul on PDRM FC striker Shahrel Fikri Fauzi.
Despite being a man down, Selangor FC went 2-0 up in the 18th minute as Alvin Fortes once again put the ball in the back of the net.
However, defensive lapses proved costly when Shahrel managed to beat goalkeeper Kamalullah Al Hafiz Mat Rowi in the 27th minute to close the gap, while defender Mohd Badrul Affendy Mohd Fadzli scored the equaliser for PDRM FC in the 39th minute.
The Cops almost added another goal during first-half injury time through Fadi Mahmoud Awad Salleh’s effort, but it came short.
Selangor FC’s import striker, Ali Olwan, stole the spotlight in the 51st minute when he netted a goal past PDRM FC goalkeeper See Tian Keat, raising the match’s tempo again.
The game was briefly halted in the 71st minute following a foul involving Selangor FC forward Muhammad Fazly Mazlan and PDRM FC striker Mohd Safiee Ahmad, with Muhammad Fazly requiring medical attention before the game resumed.
Tensions escalated further three minutes later when PDRM FC’s Bruno Junichi made a hard tackle on Selangor FC defender Ahmad Zikri Mohd Khalili, keeping the suspense alive until the final whistle.
The Challenge Cup was introduced by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) in 2018, with Terengganu FC II (TFC II) winning the inaugural edition, followed by Johor Darul Ta'zim II in 2019 and PDRM FC in the 2023 season.
PDRM FC clinched last season’s title after defeating Kuching City with a 4-1 aggregate score in the final.
Selangor and PDRM will face off again in Final 2 on Feb 22 at the same venue.
-- BERNAMA
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