PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur have booked a spot in the AFC Asean zone final after beating Vietnamese club Viettel 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
The AFC Asean zone semi-final game ended 0-0 in regulation time and both sides could not seal the game in extra-time too at the Thong Nat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.
In the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Azri Ghani was the hero when he saved Bui Duy Thuong’s penalty to lead his side to the final.
The City Boys didn't have much possession but produced a defensive masterclass to frustrate the home side.
Viettel got the first chance in the 11th when Uzbekistani midfielder Jakhongir Abdumuminov unleashed a freekick from 25m, but it was inches off the crossbar.
Kuala Lumpur’s best chance came in the 32nd minute when captain Paulo Josue thumped a superb freekick from 25m, but his swerving shot was nervously palmed away by Viettel’s goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Tran.
The City Boys were dealt a blow in the 38th minute when defensive midfielder D. Kenny Pallraj had to be stretchered out with an apparent hamstring strain. He was replaced by fellow midfielder Ryan Lambert.
The first-half statistics were not a pleasant sight for Kuala Lumpur, as they only had 27% possession and created just three chances.
But in terms of defensive solidity, Giancarlo Gallifuoco and team did a great job with eight interceptions, two blocks and 11 clearances.
In the second-half, it turned out to be a cagey affair as both sides could not create any threatening chances until the 73rd minute.
Viettel’s substitute Manh Dung Nham could have broken the deadlock, but his well-drilled shot from 20m was superbly saved by Kuala Lumpur’s goalkeeper Azri Ghani.
Two minutes later, the City Boys could have scored the first goal when Josue made a cross, and it was met by Colombian playmaker Romel Morales with a header, but that attempt was tipped away by Manh Tran.
In the 85th minute, Dung Nham got another chance when he took a superb turn to beat two defenders and unleashed a venomous shot but it went wide.
The game entered extra time as both sides held out to a 0-0 in normal time.
In the first-half of extra time, it was end to end in terms of movements and passes but no team created a strong chance that could break the deadlock except for one.
In the 96th minute, Dung Nham missed another good chance when he connected with Bui Duy Thuong’s cross but it went wide.
In the second-half of extra time, Kuala Lumpur could have scored when Ryan dribbled past three players and took a shot but it was saved by Manh Tran in the 106th minute.
The game stayed 0-0, with a penalty shoot-out to decide the victor.
Kuala Lumpur aced the shootout with Azri pulling off the save, and Paulo Josue, Hadin Azman, Romel Morales, Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Zhafri Yahya and Akram Mahinan scoring the penalties.
Irfan Zakaria missed the second penalty but it didn't matter as they will face PSM Makassar in the final on Aug 24 for a place in the Inter-Zone semi-finals against India’s ATK Mohun Bagan on Sept 7.
