PETALING JAYA: Penang’s talisman Dylan Wenzel-Halls has never been the type to go easy around a football pitch.
For the Australian winger, the game is about intensity, living on the edge where the pressure is sharpest and the rewards are sweetest.
And on Sunday night at the Hang Jebat Stadium, that mentality made all the difference as he struck twice to fire Penang to a 2-0 win over Melaka in their FA Cup last 16 first leg match.
"I’m a player who likes to play on the edge. Once I walk onto the pitch, I’m a competitor - I want to win and I want success," said the 27-year-old.
That edge, however, was tested early against Melaka.
In the first half, Wenzel-Halls thought he had scored a spectacular opener, curling home after a clever pass from Bosnian winger Danilo Sipovac.
But his joy was short-lived - Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened, chalking the goal off after Sipovac was judged to have fouled Nizaruddin Jazi in the build-up.
The decision upset him, and his protests earned him a yellow card.
That setback could have led to a meltdown but Wenzel-Halls channelled the frustration into fuel for victory.
"Even when VAR overturned the first goal, I told myself to stay patient and calm. I knew I had to keep doing my job, and thankfully I was able to take my chances when they came."
In the 48th minute, Wenzel-Halls met Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor’s pass and slotted home with the composure of a man who had been waiting all night for that moment.
His celebration mimicking the VAR gesture before running to the fans, was a mixture of relief and defiance.
Twenty minutes later, he struck again when he finished off another Wan Zack through ball.
For Wenzel-Halls, those goals were not just about the scoreboard - they were vindication that Penang have what it takes to push themselves to a win.
"Of course it was emotional. We wanted our first win so badly. We’ve worked so hard all pre-season and in the league games, but we just lacked that final result.
"To hear the full-time whistle and finally take the victory - it was really special."
The brace also pushed his tally to three goals in three games, a blistering start that underlines his influence in Penang.
