Takumi Yokohata (in blue jersey) scored for the SPL selection
It was heartbreak in Kuala Lumpur once again for the Singapore Premier League Selection, who fell 2–1 to Selangor in the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup. Defeat came in near identical fashion to the 2024 edition of the annual contest, with the Singapore side undone by a stoppage-time penalty after having fought back into the match.
The Red Giants struck first in the 20th minute, when Selangor captain Faisal Halim’s floated cross was met by teenage forward Harry Danish Haizon.
But Singapore found a response just before half-time.Albirex Niigata (S) midfielder Takumi Yokohata, making his first Sultan of Selangor Cup appearance, pounced to level the score with a composed finish two minutes into extra time as the half-time whistle was blown.
After the interval, the SPL Selection looked sharper, pressing higher and testing Selangor from set-pieces. The visitors created several half-chances but were denied by a disciplined Selangor defence.
Just as the match seemed destined for penalties, Singapore were undone.
Albirex’s Jared Gallagher was penalised for a handball in stoppage time, with Brazilian striker Chrigor Moraes stepped up to convert from the spot, sealing Selangor’s fourth consecutive triumph and extending their record to 12 titles since the Cup began in 2001.
“I’d like to thank all the players for their hard work and I’m satisfied with their performance. We created numerous opportunities to score in the second half, and I believe our failure to capitalise on them ultimately determined the outcome,” SPL Selection Head Coach Keiji Shigetomi said after the match.
“This experience was a very valuable opportunity for me. I think the difficulty of playing away games and the difficulty of bringing the team together in a short period of time was a very good experience for me,” he added, reflecting on his first time leading the side in this historic rivalry.
Earlier in the evening, Singapore’s Veterans earned a morale-boosting result by edging their Selangor counterparts 3–2 on penalties, after a tense goalless draw in regulation time.
