PETALING JAYA: Sabah reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 27 years after edging Selangor 5–4 on penalties following a 5–5 aggregate draw.
The closed door second leg at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Sunday (November 30) ended 3–3 after normal and extra time.
It mirrored the first leg in Kota Kinabalu on November 9 which finished 2–2.
Selangor struck first in the 33rd minute through captain Faisal Halim’s solo goal.
He drove into the box from the flank, cut inside, beat three defenders and slotted past Damien Lim.
Sabah equalised two minutes into the second half when Dane Ingham fired home.
Selangor regained the lead less than five minutes later through Chrigor Moraes.
Sabah levelled again in the 61st minute when Ajden Mujagić reacted quickest to a rebound off the crossbar.
Selangor went ahead for a third time in the 72nd minute when Noor Al Rawabdeh found Faisal in the box.
The winger turned sharply and finished powerfully past Damien.
Sabah refused to yield and Mujagić netted from the spot in the 88th minute to make it 3–3.
Selangor’s night worsened when Mamadou Diarra was sent off after a VAR review for an alleged elbow on Fakrul Iman Naszari.
Replays suggested he was shielding the ball.
In extra time, Moraes thought he had restored Selangor’s lead from a Faisal pass.
The effort was ruled offside by referee Mohd Hasrol Amir.
Selangor protested but the decision stood.
Despite the advantage, Sabah did not press on, while Selangor pushed for a winner.
Neither side found a breakthrough and the tie went to penalties.
Mujagić saw his spot kick saved by Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman.
Sabah then converted through Darren Lok, Stuart Wilkin, Daniel Ting and R. Dinesh.
Selangor’s first four takers, Willian Lira, Al Rawabdeh, Aliff Izwan Yuslan and Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, scored.
Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar had his attempt saved by Damien to keep Sabah ahead.
Ingham buried Sabah’s fifth penalty to pile pressure on Selangor.
Damien saved Mohamad Abualnadi’s effort to seal a 5–4 shootout win.
Sabah will face Johor Darul Ta’zim in the FA Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on December 14.
It will be their fifth final, with their lone title in 1995.
