PETALING JAYA, 1 Nov – Thirty-three time champions Selangor, are not only aiming for their 34th Malaysia Cup title but it is also their last hope to play in the AFC Cup next season.
The Malaysia Cup champions will play in the Asian championships.
The Klang Valley outfit was handed a first-round match against Melaka United – a tough call against Zainal Abidin Hassan’s team.
There is no reprieve for the Red Giants even if they clear the Melaka hurdle.
A win over Melaka will earn Selangor a place in the quarter-finals but it is another tough hurdle – facing five-time champions Kedah or four-time champions Pahang.
Kedah finished runners-up to Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) in the Super League.
For Selangor’s caretaker German coach Michael Feichtenbeiner it will be his first real test since taking over the hot-seat from B. Satiananthan who was removed after Selangor’s 6-1 defeat to JDT in a league match.
Defending champions JDT who also won the Malaysia Cup in 2017 were handed a first-round match against newcomers Kuching FA depth but it is left to be seen if the Southern Tigers, with enough depth on the bench, will be at full strength as they have a date to keep in the AFC Champions League (East Zone) in Doha, Qatar around the same period.
The winner of the JDT-Kuching FA match will face Kuala Lumpur for a place in the quarter-finals. The City Boys became the beneficiaries of Sabah’s premature exit from the Malaysia Cup after the East Malaysian team was not given the greenlight by the National Security Council due to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) due to the pandemic.
Kuala Lumpur earned a free ride into the quarter-finals after getting a bye in the first round.
Eight time champions Perak has a tricky first round encounter against surprise package Kelantan United. Newly crowned Premier League champions Penang will face beleaguered Felda United who will see no action in the M-League next season.
The Malaysia Cup first round matches will be from Nov 6-8 followed by the quarter-final matches on Nov 12-13. The semi-finals are scheduled on Nov 17 and the final on Nov 22.
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