KUCHING – Kuching City FC secured a historic place in the Malaysia Cup final after defeating Selangor FC 1-0 in the second semi-final at the State Stadium, Petra Jaya, on 18 April.
The victory, which sealed a 2-1 aggregate score, marked the club’s first-ever qualification for the prestigious final.
The decisive goal came in the 30th minute when midfielder Petrus Shitembi struck from outside the penalty area, beating Selangor goalkeeper Kalamullah Al-Hafiz.
The strike electrified the crowd of more than 19,000 supporters, who had packed the stadium to cheer on the home side.
Selangor, coached by Kim Pan-gon, attempted to regain control in the second half but faced setbacks when captain Safuwan Baharudin was sent off in the 52nd minute following a VAR review.
Their situation worsened when Mukhairi Ajmal received a red card 11 minutes later, leaving the visitors with only nine players. Despite their efforts, Selangor could not break through Kuching City’s disciplined defence.
The match was attended by several dignitaries, including His Excellency the Sarawak State Chief Minister, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.
They were joined by their daughters Sharifah Fariah and Sharifah Nong-Jasima, as well as Encik Muhammad Nur Hakeem.
The Premier of Sarawak, Tan Sri (Dr) Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, also witnessed the game alongside other senior officials and ministers.
Upon arrival, Tun Pehin Sri and Toh Puan were greeted by Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who also serves as Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts.
The couple received a warm welcome from the crowd, reflecting the strong community support for the home team.
Kuching City FC’s President, Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, praised the squad’s resilience and discipline, noting that the team had shown remarkable progress under head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak.
The victory was seen as a breakthrough moment for the club, which has steadily built its reputation as a rising force in Malaysian football.
Before departing, Tun Pehin Sri and Toh Puan congratulated the players and expressed their hopes that Kuching City FC would continue their momentum to claim the Malaysia Cup title.
The achievement has been hailed as a proud moment for Sarawak football, with fans celebrating the team’s emergence as a new contender on the national stage.
The final will now see Kuching City FC face off against a formidable opponent, with supporters eagerly anticipating another historic performance from the Sarawak side.
