Johor pip hosts Selangor to Sukma football gold in shootout

Johor football team celebrating after beating Selangor in the final match during the Malaysian Games (Sukma) final. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Johor have won the ʼMother of all Gold' medal in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) after beating Selangor 4-2 in a penalty shootout, with both sides tied at 1-1 after extra time at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Saturday (Aug 22).

About 20,000 fans were gathered at the stadium to witness the clash between two popular football states in Malaysia with both sides producing top-quality football.

Johor drew first blood in the 19th minute when Daniesh Amiruddin curled in a beauty of a volley from outside the box to beat goalkeeper Farish Farhan Mohd Zalani. 

A tussle for the ball between Johor’s Adam Hakimi Mohd Zaki (right) and Selangor’s Rohisham Haiqal Hashim in the football final at Malaysia Games (Sukma). — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

The goal woke the hosts up as they had chances to score but squandered them. 

Selangor got a penalty in the 27th minute when winger Haykal Danish Haizan was fouled inside the box and he took the spot-kick to equalise in the 29th minute.

At the start of the second half, Selangor had most of the possession while Johor relied on counters to catch them off guard.

In the 81st minute, there was a short fracas after Johor player Danish Hakimi Sahaludin made a strong challenge on Haykal, which saw both dugouts clashing but the coaches and referees were able to defuse the tense situation to get the game going. 

A tussle for the ball between Selangor’s Rohisham Haiqal Hashim (left) and Johor’s Ahmad Lutfil Hadi Sahabudin in the football final match at the Malaysia Games (Sukma). — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

Regulation time ended 1-1 as both sides entered extra time in search of a winner.

Hakimi then had to be stretchered off in the 100th minute and brought to the hospital after a collision off a corner.

The game stood at 1-1, with a penalty shootout needed to decide the winner. 

Danial Hazeiry Mohd Amin buried the first penalty for Selangor, before Johor’s Daniesh responded to make it 1-1.

Selangor dedender Hafifi Muhtadee Billah Zailani’s spotkick was saved by Johor goalkeeper Danial Idraqi Mohd Asmir, and Johor got the lead when defender Ryan Hammad Zulrafhan scored the second penalty. 

Midfielder Ahmad Zamil Zaqwan Samsulkama made it two for Selangor, but Johor’s striker Izzudin Afif Nazarudin made sure to get the third.

Selangor striker Mohd Zairul Aidid Mokhtar’s penalty was superbly saved by Idraqi, and Johor striker Naim Zainuddin scored the winning penalty to gift Johor the gold.