BY: HAFIZAN TAIB
SHAH ALAM, OCT 30: Luck was definitely not on Selangor’s side when the team lost 6 – 5 to Kedah in a penalty shootout in the Malaysia Cup final at Shah Alam Stadium on October 30.
The final came down to a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1 -1 tie even after 120 minutes with 30 minutes of extra time.
Rizal Ghazali emerged as the hero for the Red Eagles by scoring the winning goal to ensure that the squad coached by Tan Cheng Ho emerge as Malaysia Cup champions this year.
Kedah won after Rizal Fahmi failed to score to defeat Ifwat Akmal.
The six goal from the extra penalties came after a 4 – 4 tie from five earlier penalties.
The final was a close battle with both teams launching attacks and counterattacks from the early minutes.
Kedah took the field trying to avenge their defeat last year while Selangor tried to retain the title.
The stadium had a charged atmosphere, with over 80,000 supporters from both sides chanting their hearts out as they watched the exciting game.
Kedah was always challenging with dangerous attacks before taking the lead in the 7th minute of the second half through a shot by Rizal Ghazali from outside the penalty area beat keeper Mohd Khairul Azhan.
The Red Eagles’ fans’ joy was short-lived however, when Hazwan Bakri managed to equalise with a blistering shot pass Ifwat Akmal in the 60th minute.
The 1 – 1 draw continued on as both teams tried their best to find the elusive winning goal.
With an attacking side led by Team Captain Andik Vermanshah, the squad coached by K Gunalan coordinated a counter-attack against their rivals led by Baddrol Bakhtiar.
The match went into extra time after the score remained unchanged at regulation time.
Kedah were the lucky ones that night when they defeated Selangor through the subsequent penalty shootout.
Kedah champions, Selangor defeated in penalty shootout
