PETALING JAYA: Scoring your first goal for a new club is usually a moment for wild celebration.
For Selangor winger A. Selvan, it was anything but.
The 25-year-old, who hails from Port Dickson, put the Red Giants ahead in the 26th minute of their 3-0 Super League win over Kuala Lumpur at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Sunday.
But instead of celebrating, he turned to the referee, half expecting the goal to be chalked off for a foul.
“Even my teammates asked me what was wrong, since I had just scored. But I was hesitant because I saw Kuala Lumpur’s goalkeeper and centreback down on the ground, so I thought a foul had happened,” said Selvan.
“Chrigor (Moraes) was down too, so I was wondering if the goal would be disallowed.”
It was only when his teammates told him the goal stood that Selvan celebrated.
“It feels good to get my first goal, and I hope it is the start of many more.”
His performance drew applause from the Kuala Lumpur bench and a standing ovation from the Selangor faithful when he was substituted in the 60th minute.
He caused constant problems down Kuala Lumpur’s left flank, repeatedly getting the better of Ukrainian centreback Dmytro Lytvyn and leftback Syazwan Andik.
In one particularly eye-catching passage of play, he dribbled past five defenders with ease, drawing gasps from the crowd.
“I’m happy to have settled into this team so quickly, and that’s down to my teammates and coach Kim Pan-gon,” he said.
Selangor’s other goals came from Moraes in the 51st minute and Venezuelan midfielder Eduardo Sosa in the 73rd.
Selangor have won all four of their matches in the league and are currently third with 12 points from four games, just separated by goal difference from second placed Kuching City. Kuala Lumpur, meanwhile, are sixth in the league with six points from five games.
