Newly promoted Kuala Lumpur City almost pulled off an important win over arch-rivals Selangor FC in Saturday’s 2021 Liga Super Malaysia Matchweek 3 action, however their aspirations for all three points at the Petaling Jaya Stadium went up in smokes after a 90th minute own-goal from Australian defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco. The two sides were forced to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw, a result that reflects the closely-matched nature of the first competitive Klang Valley Derby in almost two years.
The Klang Valley Derby has always been one of the most fiery football rivalries in Malaysia and despite Kuala Lumpur going up and down the leagues in recent years and the derby being one-sided in nature with Selangor hogging the most amount of wins, the animosity that stemmed from the rivalry is far from dead. This was proven from an incident that occurred as recently as late February 2021, when Selangor striker Ifedayo Olusegun was racially abused by a group of Kuala Lumpur fans waiting outside the KLFA Stadium when the two Klang Valley sides clashed in the first edition of the Caring Cup, a pre-season tournament.
The passion that came with this rivalry was also evident on Saturday’s derby at the Petaling Jaya Stadium, with league operators Malaysian Football League (MFL) issuing a statement on their social media and website pleading for fans to refrain from coming to stadiums as a group of supporters were spotted gathering outside the Petaling Jaya Stadium prior to the match, effectively breaching COVID-related protocols. The MFL did not specify whether the supporters violating COVID protocols set by the league on Saturday were Selangor fans or Kuala Lumpur fans.
As expected in such clashes between rivals, the latest edition of the Klang Valley Derby was a very open encounter, both teams threatening each other’s defenses with chances aplenty throughout the match. Despite the difference in stature – Selangor finishing 5th in the 2020 Liga Super and Kuala Lumpur being promoted back into the top flight after one year in the second-tier Liga Premier – the two teams were quite evenly-matched, slugging it out against each other as they attempted to draw the first blood.
After a goalless first half, the second half saw Kuala Lumpur taking the game to the Red Giants, with the City Boys testing the home defenses a number of times throughout the second 45. However, Kuala Lumpur had to wait until the 80th minute to receive the breakthrough that they’ve been looking for.
A long through ball from deep within the Kuala Lumpur half was lapped up enthusiastically by striker Dominique Da Sylva. The former Ho Chi Minh City FC, Sai Gon FC, and Terengganu FC man outpaced two Selangor defenders and outmuscled another as he went unopposed towards Khairulazhan Khalid’s goal, firing off a powerful shot that defeated the goalkeeper and gave the visitors the lead.
However, right at the stroke of full-time, Selangor managed to land their equalizer and thwart any hopes of a Kuala Lumpur victory after the Red Giants’ Singaporean defender Safuwan Baharudin managed to head in an Oliver Buff free-kick past Kuala Lumpur’s Filipino goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza. Whilst initially it seemed that Safuwan won out in his aerial duel against former Melbourne Victory man Gallifuoco for the ball prior to Selangor’s equalizer, closer inspection sees the ball taking a deflection off Gallifuoco’s head before going straight into Mendoza’s goal, meaning that the Australian was credited with the own-goal that drew the game level.
The 1-1 draw sees Selangor finishing the matchweek 5th in the Liga Super table, while Kuala Lumpur are in 7th place.
Meanwhile, at the Hang Jebat Stadium, Dollah Salleh took charge of Sri Pahang FC as they drew 0-0 with hosts Melaka United. Former Tok Gajah head coach Salleh was in charge of Pahang at the Hang Jebat as both head coach Thomas Dooley and assistant coach Christophe Gamel were rested following Pahang’s shambolic start to the season, which saw them lose both of their first two games before drawing their third on Saturday.
Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim gave university side UiTM FC a lesson to remember as the Southern Tigers dismantled the Lion Troops 4-0 at the UiTM Stadium. New signing Bergson, on loan from Brazilian top flight side Fortaleza, scored a debut goal as 19-year old Arif Aiman was also in the scoresheet as well. Despite the huge win, JDT were made to worry after star man Safawi Rasid was taken off after just 9 minutes following a heavy challenge from an UiTM player.
Last but not least, Sabah FC’s winless start to the season continues as Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto’s Tembedau were beaten at their own Likas Stadium 1-0 by Petaling Jaya City, with Darren Lok scoring the only goal for the Phoenixes.
Matchweek 3 concludes this Sunday with Perak FC taking on Terengganu FC at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.