KUALA LUMPUR – As the famous saying goes, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”.
Despite a 3-2 defeat to Terengganu FC in the FA Cup semi-final first leg, Selangor FC head coach Nidzam Jamil is confident that the tie is far from over.
The intense match, which attracted 31,689 fans to the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium on Friday, saw Terengganu’s goals from Safawi Rasid (30th minute), Nurillo Tukhtasinov (35th), and Ismahil Akinade (70th) outpacing Selangor’s replies from Alvin Fortes (39th) and Noor Al Deen Mahmoud Ali Al Rawabdeh (48th).
With the second leg set for August 3 at MBPJ Stadium, Nidzam remains optimistic about their chances of reaching their first FA Cup final in six years.
For context, Selangor’s last FA Cup final appearance was in 2018, when they were defeated 2-0 by Sri Pahang FC.
Speaking to Scoop, Nidzam reflected on his team’s resilience, drawing from their quarter-final experience.
The Red Giants had to overturn a 2-1 first-leg loss against Kuching City FC on June 29, eventually drawing the tie 4-4 on aggregate and advancing after a 5-3 penalty shootout victory in the second leg.
“We still have another 90 minutes to play, and the boys have shown they can stage a comeback, as demonstrated in the quarter-finals.
“We have to stay positive; as long as the game is not finished, we can never rule ourselves out.
“This time, we’re playing at home, and the atmosphere will be much more supportive. Playing in front of the home fans will give us a different level of energy.
“Plus, with Yohandry Orozco and Umar Eshmurodov returning, we will be stronger than before,” said Nidzam when contacted.
Nidzam also acknowledged the strength of Terengganu, noting their solid form and experience in reaching multiple FA Cup and Malaysia Cup finals.
“We could have opted for a more defensive approach at their ground, but we chose to play open football and take the risk,” he added.
Recently, Terengganu coach Tomislav Steinbruckner admitted that Selangor remains a tough opponent despite the Turtles’ first-leg advantage.
For the record, the Red Giants have won the FA Cup five times (1991, 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2009) in their 119-year history. – July 22, 2024