Who’s laughing now?
Unwanted striker Segovia steers Selangor to big win over PKNS
PETALING JAYA: It’s payback time and striker Rufino Segovia hit pay dirt by delivering three goals in Selangor’s 4-0 rout of PKNS in the first leg semi-final tie of the FA Cup.
The Spanish hitman fired a hattrick (39th, 40th and 56th minutes) to help the Red Giants record a comfortable victory at the Cheras Football Stadium on Saturday.
Selangor’s other goal came through PKNS’ Azmizi Azmi’s own goal in the 64th minute.
The 33-year-old Segovia, unwanted by several teams earlier, but snapped up by Selangor in 2017, has more or less paid back for the faith they had in him by scoring 31 goals in 32 appearance.
Segovia, who said he feels very much at home with Selangor, did not reckoned his display on Saturday was his best showing.
“Before I came to Selangor, a lot of teams rejected me because they felt I’m too old. Selangor signed me and helped me to settle down here.
“Selangor is my home now and I want to win the cup with the club,” Segovia said after the match.
“We played well in the first half but did not have clear chances before the first goal and we were lucky to score the second then in the second half we scored two more goals for the win.”
“This is not my best performance. At times I play well but I don’t score and this time I scored three goals but I think I could have played better.”
Segovia said the players are clicking well and he expects them to get better.
“This year we had some difficult situation. We had new players and we needed time to know each other better,” he added.
“I think we are OK now as we have only lost once in the last seven matches. We are starting to do well. We are creating more chances now and having good momentum,” he said.
In the other semi-final, 2014 champions Pahang were held 1-1 by Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.
The visitors took the lead through Ahmad Sukri Ab Hamid in the 12th minute before the homesters equalised through Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria in the 24th minute.
The second semi-final leg between PKNS and Selangor will take place at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday while PKNP will host Pahang at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on Sunday.