PETALING JAYA: Selangor’s pain of missing out on Asian football this season appears to be fuelling some of the most eye-catching football in the Super League – and Chrigor Moraes is at the heart of it.
The Brazilian continued his blistering start to the season with a second-half brace as Selangor crushed Terengganu 3-0 at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Gong Badak on Friday for their second win in two games.
Moraes’ clinical finishing has quickly become the highlight of the Red Giants, following last week’s 4-1 thrashing of Kelantan in Kota Baru, where he also fired a double.
Against Terengganu, Selangor drew first blood in the 59th minute when Dutch striker Kay Tejan pounced on a loose ball and drove it past the Turtles’ goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim.
Four minutes later, Moraes doubled the lead with a moment of individual brilliance, beating two defenders before rounding Rahadiazli to finish superbly.
He completed his brace in injury time.
Moraes attributed the team’s bright start to a strong pre-season campaign in Thailand.
“We played some good games in Thailand, and that helped us to make a strong start to the season,” he said.
The 25-year-old said the disappointment of missing out on Asian competition this season also provided a strong motivation for the team.
“We are determined to finish strongly this season and qualify for the Asian stage again.”
Selangor’s win, however, was overshadowed by an alarming injury to first-choice goalkeeper Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, who was stretchered off and taken to hospital following a suspected concussion.
The 24-year-old collided head-on with Terengganu striker Romel Morales in the 71st minute and lay motionless on the pitch as physios and team doctors rushed to attend to him.
Izhan was replaced by reserve goalkeeper Azim Al-Amin. Selangor have since confirmed that Izhan is in stable condition but will be monitored regularly as a precaution.
