FIFTH FA CUP CROWN FOR SELANGOR

The score at the end of regulation and extra-time was 1-1 in a game which was attended by more than 80,000 fans.

The Red Giants as they are fondly known as had been previous FA Cup winners in 1991, 1997, 2001 and 2005.

But the game against Kelantan – known as the Red Warriors and who were making their first major Cup final appearance since 1970 – was anything but easy in spite of the big match experience that was available on the Selangor side.

Selangor threw everything they had in the opening first half but even though they had three corners in the first four minutes of the game, they just could not crack Kelantan’s defensive resilience.

And after fending off Selangor’s onslaught for much of the first quarter, Kelantan fought back through Ezrie Shafizie Sazali, whose 25metre drive just narrowly missed the upright.

Then it was veteran international Indra Putra Mahayuddin’s turn to fire in a shot from 30mtere which rocked the Selangor goal.

Kelantan grew in confidence after the break but it was to be Selangor’s Rudie Ramli who came the closest with a volley that was denied by Kelantan keeper Shahrizan Ismail.

In extra-time, it was Kelantan who went ahead when Nor Farhan Mohamad headed in the cross from captain Badhri Radzi.

However, Selangor found the equalizer some eight minutes later when captain Amri Yahyah delivered a low cross from a chip off D. Surendran.

In the shootout, Indra Putra and Zairul Fitree Ishak failed to find the target as Selangor celebrated through the night with goals from Khairul Anuar Baharum, Nasriq Baharom, Surendran and Safee Sali.