PETALING JAYA: A solitary strike from Chrigor Moraes sealed Selangor’s 1-0 win over Negri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup quarter-final first-leg match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Sunday (Feb 8).
The Brazilian forward initially thought he had opened the scoring in the 76th minute after getting on the end of Ahmad Zikri Khalili’s cross, but it was ruled out following a VAR review.
It was deemed that the ball had struck his hand before it rebounded, though it was not a deliberate handball.
Selangor coach Kim Pan-gon remonstrated over the decision and was given a yellow card.
According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Law 12, an attacking player commits a handball offence if they score directly from their hand or arm, or immediately after it touches their hand or arm, even if accidental.
Moraes however decided to put the episode behind him and kept pressing his opponents.
The 26-year-old got a chance in the 85th minute when he was put through by a superb pass from Jordanian midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh but blazed his shot over the bar.
He eventually got his break when he was fouled by Negri’s fullback Harith Shamsuri in the penalty box and he buried from the spot in injury time.
Moraes is just one goal away from scoring 30 in all competitions.
The second leg will be held at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Feb 14.
