PETALING JAYA: Selangor need to run a tight ship in defence if they want to ensure a second-place finish in the Super League and book their ticket to the Asian Champions League II (ACL II).
The Red Giants strengthened their grip in the league after beating Kuala Lumpur 3-2 in the Klang Valley Derby at the Cheras Football Stadium on Sunday.
The three-point win had created some space between them in the table as the season nears its tailend.
A second-place finish will see Selangor back in the ACL II for the third consecutive season.
They now have 42 points, two points ahead of Kuching City in third, while Kuala Lumpur drop to fourth place with 39 points.
Although head coach Kim Pan-gon was glad to record another win since taking over in January, he admitted that letting two goals slip past them late into the game was worrying.
“We started the game well and took the lead early, that was a good performance from us,” said Pan-gon.
“But we conceded two goals and that’s something I’m unhappy about. We have to try to keep a clean sheet, it’s something we have to work on.”
Selangor held a 3-0 lead until the 70th minute thanks to goals from Faizal Halim, Mamadou Diarra, and Hugo Boumous.
But the City Boys replied with strikes from Madger Gomes in the 72nd minute and another from Safawi Rasid in the 85th minute.
However, it was not enough to level things with Selangor as the visitors maintained their unbeaten run under Pan-gon with four games remaining.
Selangor will next compete in the Malaysia Cup semi-final first-leg clash against Kuching at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on April 5.
