KUCHING: Kuching City FC is preparing for a potentially history-making 90 minutes when they face Selangor in the decisive Malaysia Cup semi-final second leg this coming Saturday (April 18).
The tie remains finely balanced at 1-1 on aggregate, though Kuching City will feel they should already have one foot in the final after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in the first leg in Petaling Jaya.
Head coach, Aidil Sharin Sahak, made no secret of his side’s frustration, insisting his players had done enough to secure the win.
“I think the boys proved it. We upset them, and I think we deserved to win. But this is football, we have to accept it.
“The bigger team is Selangor in terms of budget and players. So, why should we feel the pressure?” he said after the first-leg draw.
Momentum is firmly with the hosts following a commanding 4-1 Malaysia Super League win over PDRM FC on April 12, with Ramadhan Saifullah set to return after missing the first leg through suspension.
Support has also been strong, with around 14,000 tickets sold within two days and covered seating in Zones A, B and C already snapped up, setting up a packed State Stadium atmosphere.
Selangor FC, however, arrive with belief, with head coach, Kim Pan Gon, maintaining his side held the upper hand despite the first-leg result.
“We have a higher chance than Kuching because I think our performance was better. We dominated and controlled the game,” he said.
The 33-time Malaysia Cup winners needed a late goal to stay alive in the tie, setting up a high-stakes return leg in Kuching.
For Aidil, the message is clear: finish what they started.
“We didn’t lose, and that is a good sign for us going home. I want all Kuching fans to come and support us. It will give us more boost and motivation,” he said.
With a place in the final on the line, the task is simple for Kuching City FC: finish the job.
