Kedah Wins Malaysia Cup Ending 8-Year Drought
SHAH ALAM: Kedah ended their eight-year wait to lift the Malaysia Cup after defeating holders Selangor 6-5 in a penalty shootout in the final at Shah Alam Stadium last night.
The match was dragged into a penalty shootout after both sides were tied 1-1 after 120 minutes of play, including 30 minutes of extra time.
The success saw the Red Eagles redeeming themselves after losing 0-2 to Selangor in the same final last year.
Kedah has now won the Malaysia Cup title for the fifth time after winning the prestigious local football competition in 1990, 1993, 2007 and 2008.
The match watched by almost 80,000 supporters, saw both teams having a fair share of the action at each other’s goal as soon as referee Mohd Amirul Izwan Yaacob whistled for the start of the match.
The invincible defence and the prolific goalkeepers on both sides saw the first half ending 0-0.
As soon as the second half began, Selangor had the chance to break the impasse in the 50th minute when an attempt by Ahmad Hazwan Bakri from a Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh pass, failed to find the target.
One minute later, Kedah midfielder Mohd Rizal Mohd Ghazali brought fans of the Red Eagles to their feet when his attempt struck Selangor player S. Veenod and lobbed into Selangor’s goal.
Kedah paid dearly in a moment of lapse, when Ahmad Hazwan equalised for Selangor in the 59th minute in a one-two play with Patrick.
Both teams continued to find the winning goal but failed and the match had to be determined in a penalty shootout.
Kedah’s success in winning the Malaysia Cup was made sweeter when Mohd Rizal was chosen as the best player of the match.
Tunku Temenggong Kedah, Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah presented the Malaysia Cup trophy to Kedah captain, Baddrol Bakhtiar.
Also present to watch the game was Selangor Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah, Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.
- BERNAMA
