PETALING JAYA — Selangor FC ended their ten-year wait for silverware with a commanding 7-0 aggregate victory over PDRM FC to clinch the 2024/2025 Challenge Cup in the second leg of the final at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium (MBPJ) last night.
Kinoshi Katsuhito’s men lived up to expectations with a dominant performance, dismantling a PDRM side that was reduced to ten men in the first half.
The Red Giants showed their intent from the outset, with Ali Olwan signalling early danger in the fourth minute before Yohandry Orozco headed a chance just wide in the 10th minute.
PDRM began to settle into the game but were dealt a major blow when midfielder Muhammad Eizrul Ashraf Nor Effendy was shown a red card in the 22nd minute for a reckless tackle.
Selangor immediately capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Quentin Chen delivering a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, allowing Ronnie Allan Fernandez Saez to nod home in the 30th minute, strengthening their grip on the tie.
The second half saw both teams tighten their defences, but Selangor eventually found the breakthrough again in the 80th minute, as Orozco latched onto a superb pass from Muhammad Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi to seal a comprehensive 4-0 victory on the night.
Combined with their 3-0 win in the first leg, Selangor triumphed 7-0 on aggregate.
Adding to PDRM’s woes, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Disciplinary Committee had earlier penalised them for fielding an ineligible player in the first leg of the final, which originally ended in a 3-2 defeat for Selangor.
As a result, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) awarded Selangor a 3-0 win and imposed a RM3,000 fine on PDRM.
Head coach Kinoshi Katsuhito hailed the triumph as a significant milestone but stressed that it was only the beginning of a larger journey for the club.
“I’m very satisfied with the players’ work. Not only the players but also the staff, who have worked hard to maintain our condition, pitch, nutrition, and overall organisation.
“These efforts make history, and we have learned a lot from this championship,” he said at the post-match press conference, Bernama reported.
The victory holds special meaning for the Red Giants, whose last domestic trophy came in the 2015 Malaysia Cup. This win not only ends their title drought but also reinforces their ambition to reclaim their place at the top of Malaysian football.
Despite the achievement, Katsuhito acknowledged that not all Selangor supporters shared the same excitement, urging fans to stand by the team and recognise the sacrifices made by the players.
“This is their choice, so I cannot say anything about it. But becoming a champion is never easy. Some players get to play, some don’t, but everyone contributes. Please continue to support the players and appreciate their hard work. This is my opinion,” he added.
The Challenge Cup was introduced by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) in 2018, with Terengganu FC II (TFC II) winning the inaugural edition, followed by Johor Darul Ta’zim II (2019) and PDRM FC in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the competition from 2020 to 2022. — February 23, 2025