KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor ended their AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) campaign without a single win after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Singapore’s Lion City Sailors in their final Group G match at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium on Wednesday.
It was Selangor‘s fifth defeat of the group stage, with their 1-1 draw against Bangkok United at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Nov 26 their only positive result in the competition this season.
Selangor began brightly and matched Lion City Sailors in the early exchanges, creating their first real chance through Chrigor Moraes in the 12th minute, but his effort was denied by goalkeeper Ivan Susak. The visitors then grew in confidence, with Anderson Lopes forcing a save from Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi five minutes later.
Kalamullah was kept busy as he pulled off another fine stop to deny Tsiy Ndenge in the 23rd minute, before Selangor lived dangerously again when Maxime Lestienne’s free kick struck the crossbar four minutes later. However, five minutes into the second half, Ndenge finally broke the deadlock with a powerful finish after being set up by Song Ui-young inside the penalty area.
Christophe Gamel’s men pressed hard for an equaliser but found no breakthrough, including a late effort by Moraes in stoppage time that narrowly missed the target.
Persib Bandung of Indonesia topped Group G with 13 points after a 1-0 win over Bangkok United, with Bangkok United and Lion City Sailors tied on 10 points, while Selangor finished bottom with just one point.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
