Football
ESPN staff 7y

Selangor's Khairul Azhan eager for Malaysia Cup final start against Kedah

Khairul Azhan Khalid is keeping his fingers crossed that his Malaysia Cup heroics this season will be enough to pip him ahead of Norazlan Razali in goal for the final showdown against Kedah on Oct. 30.

Both sides meet again in a repeat of last season's Malaysia Cup final, where Selangor edged the Canaries to be crowned champions for a record 33rd time.

Norazlan started in goal for Selangor in that final and kept Kedah at bay to see the Red Giants come away with a 2-0 win at the Shah Alam Stadium.

Khairul, who was signed for the 2016 campaign from Pahang is hoping he has done enough to convince head coach K. Gunalan to start him in goal at the same venue.

"When we won in 2015, I was still in Pahang, so the feeling is different. I am eager to feature in another Malaysia Cup final, especially since I have been playing regularly in the competition," Khairul told Utusan Online. 

The 26-year-old shot-stopper knows what it's like to triumph in the Malaysia Cup. He lifted back-to-back titles with Pahang in 2013 and 2014 when the Elephants were at the peak of their footballing prowess.

Khairul kept a clean sheet in 2013 when Pahang edged Kelantan thanks to a Matias Conti goal.

He repeated the heroics a year later when he saved Norshahrul Idlan Talaha's penalty in a shootout as Pahang sank Johor Darul Ta'zim 5-3 on penalties to retain the title.

"I will be banking on my experience in previous finals if I am selected. I feel I have done well in the competition so far and want to complete the job on Sunday," said Khairul.

Selangor are on a sterling run in the Malaysia Cup, having topped their Group B containing Kelantan, Pahang and Kuala Lumpur.

The defending champions stepped up a gear in the knockout rounds, scoring five each against PKNS FC and T-Team in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively to set up a final showpiece against Kedah.

Gunalan was already preparing for the Sunday showdown, as he rested several regulars including Patrick "Ronaldinho" Wleh and Andik Vermanshah in the final league game against Johor Darul Ta'zim, which Selangor lost 2-1.

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