Selangor FC, with stalwart Faisal Halim watching from the stands after recovering from the acid attack in May, produced an inspired performance to tame Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) 4-0 in the first round of the FA Cup match at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium here today.
With the win, the Red Giants, who had also defeated NSFC 4-0 in a Super League clash at the end of last month, are through to the two-legged quarter-finals, where they will meet Kuching City FC, who stunned Kuala Lumpur City FC 3-2 yesterday.
Faisal Halim turned up at the stadium with his wife and son to support them. Faisal Halim, whose nickname is Mickey, smiled and waved at the cheering Selangor fans.
The Red Giants' head coach, Nidzam Jamil, in an interview after the match, said: "Faisal hasn't been with us for a month, he's a missing piece for us.
"When Faisal came to support the team, he also came to the dressing room before the game. "He came 30 minutes before kick-off, no one expected, I wasn't told either and was quite surprised.
"It was quite emotional, we were able to joke around as usual , We really miss him.
"I'm very happy to see the progress.
On Thursday (June 13), the 26-year-old made his first public appearance at a special media conference at the Selangor FC Training Centre in Shah Alam since being splashed with acid by an unknown assailant at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya in May.
