KUCHING: Petrus Shitembi etched his name into Kuching City FC folklore, scoring the decisive goal that sent the Cats into their first-ever Malaysia Cup final after a pulsating semi-final clash at Stadium Negeri, Petra Jaya on Saturday night.
With Selangor defenders closing in, Shitembi showed composure, unleashing a thunderous strike from outside the box in the 31st minute to spark a deafening roar from the packed home crowd.
Kuching started brightly, pressing forward with intent, but Selangor FC refused to yield in a fiercely contested encounter. The visitors remained dangerous on the counter while absorbing pressure from the hosts.
The match turned in the second half when Selangor were reduced to nine men following red cards to Muhammad Mukhairee Ajmal Mahadi (48th minute) and Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin (62nd minute).
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the 33-time champions showed grit, making life difficult for the hosts until the final whistle.
Shitembi nearly doubled the lead after linking up with Jordan Mintah, but his effort lacked the power to trouble goalkeeper Kamalul Hafiz Mat Rowi.
Roared on by a crowd of 19,000, with fans chanting “Hari Ini Kita Pasti Menang,” Kuching City held firm to secure a memorable 2-1 aggregate victory.
The win books their place in the Malaysia Cup final at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on May 23, where they will face defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, who beat Kuala Lumpur City FC in the other semi-final.
It marks the first time since 1999 that a Sarawak-based team has reached the Malaysia Cup final, when Sarawak fell 2-1 to Brunei.
