Selangor FC 2-1 Kuching City FC: an E. Sosa double gives the hosts a first-leg lead

Selangor FC beat Kuching City FC 2-1 at MBPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya, on 23 October in the first leg of the Malaysia FA Cup semi-final.

The visitors went ahead through R. Saifullah in the 9th minute. E. Sosa equalised in the 19th minute, and the sides went in level at the break. He scored again in the 58th minute, and that second goal decided the first leg. It leaves Selangor FC one goal ahead going into the return.

The defeat was the first for Kuching City FC in five matches of this cup run, which now reads two wins, two draws and one loss. In the quarter-final they drew 0-0 away to Kelantan City FC and then won 4-1 at home. Selangor FC won 4-1 away to Star City FC in the first leg of their quarter-final, then lost the return 3-2 at MBPJ Stadium.

The two clubs met at the same stage of last season’s Malaysia Cup. The first leg at MBPJ Stadium on 5 April ended 1-1, and Kuching City FC won the return 1-0 in Kuching on 18 April before losing the final 2-0 to Johor Darul Ta’zim.

In the Malaysia Super League, Selangor FC are second with 15 points from five matches; Kuching City FC are third with 12 from six.

Before the return, Kuching City FC visit Gangwon FC in the AFC Champions League Two on 29 October, and Selangor FC host Star City FC in the league on 1 November. The second leg is at Taha Ariffin Stadium, Kuching, on 8 November, kicking off at 7.45pm.