Sabah FC Edge Selangor 5-4 On Penalties To Set Up FA Cup Final Date With JDT
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Sabah FC created history by qualifying for the FA Cup final for the first time, defeating Selangor FC 5-4 via a penalty shootout after being tied 5-5 on aggregate at the end of the second leg semi-final at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium tonight.
Just like the first leg which ended in a 2-2 draw, today’s fierce clash saw the score tied at 3-3 after 120 minutes of play, although Selangor finished the match with 10-man when Diarra Mamadou was shown the red card during second-half injury time.
Goalkeeper Damien Lim emerged as the visitors' hero when he saved two attempts from Selangor players Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar and Mohammad Abualnadi, redeeming the earlier mistake of his teammate Ajdin Mujagic, who failed to convert a penalty.
Earlier, Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim put the Red Giants, who were forced to play behind closed doors, ahead in the 33rd minute before Dane Ingham equalised two minutes after the break.
Selangor FC regained the lead through Chrigor Moraes' finish in the 51st minute, but Sabah FC managed to bounce back and level the score when Mujagic netted the team's second goal in the 62nd minute.
Mohamad Faisal once again put Selangor FC ahead in the 73rd minute before Sabah FC managed to equalise again after Mujagic converted a penalty in the 88th minute.
For the record, before being known as Sabah FC through the MFL privatisation process, the Sabah team had appeared in the final stage three times, with the last time being in the 1998 edition, but all those appearances ended with the Sabahans finishing as runners-up.
In the final, Sabah FC will face reigning champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who advanced with a 4-1 aggregate victory after defeating Kuching City FC 2-0 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, in the other second leg semi-final.
JDT's opening goal came in the 25th minute when Bergson Da Silva finished a neat move resulting from a combination between Oscar Arribas and Corbin-Ong, giving the home side the advantage.
The Southern Tigers squad then had several chances to extend their lead but failed to find the finishing touch and were denied by the excellent performance of Kuching City goalkeeper Muhammad Haziq Nadzli.
However, the squad led by Xisco Munoz finally sealed the victory with a second goal when Eddy Israfilov capitalised on a pass from Samuel Castillejo in the 82nd minute, thus giving JDT a chance to defend the title for the fourth consecutive time.
-- BERNAMA
