Pahang lift FA Cup for third time
KUALA LUMPUR: Pahang lifted the FA Cup for the third time after beating five- time champions Selangor 2- 0 in the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight.
Playing in front of over 43,000 fans, Dol lah Sa l leh’s men started the match with a slew of dangerous attacks, keeping Selangor goalkeeper Mohd Khairulazhan Khalid hard at work.
The Elephants’ constant pressure on Selangor’s goal paid off when they broke the deadlock in the 11th minute through Muhd Nor Azam Abdul Azih’s powerful shot from outside the penalty box after he received a sublime pass from former national striker Nor Shahrul Idlan Talaha.
The Red Giants had a wonderful chance to equalise at the end of the first half through K. Kannan’s shot 30 metres from goal, but Pahang goalkeeper Mohd Helmi Eliza Elias kept it out to take the lead into the break.
In the second half, Amamchi Augustine Iwuji’s wonderful solo foray into Selangor’s penalty box saw him draw a foul from defender Alfonso De La Cruz, and Brazilian striker Patrick Dos Santos Cruz had no trouble doubling Pahang’s lead from the ensuing spot kick in the 62nd minute.
From then on, there was nothing Muhammad Nazliazmi Mohamad Nasir’s side could do to prevent Pahang from lifting the cup as the latter controlled the game well until the final whistle.
Pahang’s FA Cup victory earns them a place in the qualifying round of the 2019 Asian Champions League. — Bernama