Selangor rode on a hattrick by Spaniard hitman Rufino Segovia for a convincing 4-0 win over PKNS FC in the first-leg FA Cup semi-final match at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras on Saturday.
However, it was a different story for last year’s runners-up Pahang who struggled to a 1-1 draw against Perak outfit PKNP (Perak SEDC) at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.
With a four-goal advantage, the Red Giants have one-leg in the final for the return-leg on July 1 at the Shah Alam Stadium while it is a 50-50 for Pahang at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
Rufino, who is also Selangor’s leading scorer in the Super League with 13 goals, struck twice in a spate of two minutes in the 39th and 40th minutes and completed his hat-trick on 56 minutes.
Selangor was gifted the fourth when PKNS defender turned the ball into his own while trying to cut off a cross by Rufino in the 64th minute – to give the Red Giants a healthy four-goal cushion.
PKNP shocked Pahang as early as the 12th minute when Ahmad Sukri Hamid beat Pahang keeper Helmi Eliza Elias with a well-taken shot.
However, the visitors failed to ride on the early goal and instead allowed Pahang to grab the equalizer in the 24th minute through an effort by Wan Zaharulnizm Wan Zakaria.
Pahang played without three of their pillars in the team, including skipper Matthew Davies. The other two who sat out the match was Singaporean international and utility player Safuwan Baharudin and midfielder Nor Azam Azih. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
RESULTS
(FA CUP SEMIFINALS, First-leg)
Selangor 4 PKNS FC 0
Pahang 1 PKNP 1
