Selangor team rejoicing after bagging the trophy.
SELANGOR secured their 14th Malaysian Chinese Football Association (MCFA) Cup title after a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win against Negri Sembilan.
The final, held at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Mini Stadium in Kampar, Perak, ended 1-1 in regular time.
It was sweet victory for Selangor, who lost to Kedah in the finals last year. Selangor have appeared in 30 MCFA Cup finals in the tournament’s 71-year history, and last won the cup in 2022.
Although they were favourites, Negri Sembilan put up a strong fight, equalising in the 89th minute through Chun Keng Hong to push the game into penalties.
Negri Sembilan team put up a strong fight to clinch the number two spot.
Penang, the record holders with 15 titles, finished third by defeating Perak 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Selangor entered the final unbeaten, having topped the Southern Group.
They had already defeated Negri Sembilan twice during the group stage but faced a determined opponent in the final.
The tournament was organised under the leadership of newly elected MCFA president Datuk Jeffery Low and his team.
Local support came from Hew Fen Yee, who was a major sponsor, and UTAR who hosted the event and provided medical assistance.
For Selangor’s Nicolas Wee Shen Ming, 32, the victory could mark his last appearance in the tournament.
Wee (left) with his father who was instrumental in his football career.
A former Harimau Muda player and DBC Group of Physiotherapy Centres chief executive officer, Wee has won the MCFA Cup six times since he started participating in the competition as a 15-year-old.
Although Wee no longer plays football competitively, he still enjoys the sport on a recreational basis while focusing more on his career.
The competition featured a two-league system, with Penang and Perak advancing from the Northern Zone, and Selangor, and Negri Sembilan from the Southern Zone.
Tournament champions received RM7,000 while the runner-up received RM4,000.
Additional awards included those for the Fairplay Team (Negri Sembilan), Top Scorer (Mak Weng Keng of Perak with nine goals) and Best Goalkeeper (Lim Wei Peng of Negri Sembilan).
The MCFA tournament is open to all races and teams are required to include three under-21 players in the starting 11.
