Aiman Nazirmuddin
Football Tribe Malaysia
Substitute Mohd Fadzrul Danel Mohd Nizam made the difference, scoring the goal to secure Kedah’s 1-0 victory over Perak in the FA Cup final at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Not only did they manage to repeat the success of the 2017 season, but the Red Eagles have now been named the most successful team in the history of the FA Cup along with Selangor by winning the trophy five times.
The championship also marked a brilliant start for his manager, Aidil Sharin Sahak in his first season in the Malaysian League.
Aidil’s decision to include Mohd Fadzrul Danel at the end of the first half of extra time proved to be a masterstroke, as the 21-year-old made his name as the team’s hero.
However, Kedah could’ve opened the scoring in the 63th minute, but Muhammad Farhan Roslan’s poor shot after beating the offside trap was easily caught Muhammad Hafizul Justice Khairul Nizam Jothy.
The 70th minute, Perak striker Ronaldo beat Kedah goalkeeper Mohd Ifwat Akmal Chek Kassim but his shot was denied by the retreating defenders.
Ultimately, it took until extra time to break the deadlock, but the Red Eagles did enough to secure the trophy. This victory also comes with the added bonus of a place in the qualifying round of the 2020 AFC Champions League.