Pushing the limits: Selangor’s Faisal Halim (right) vying for the ball with Dynamic Herb Cebu FC’s Rintaro Hama during the AFC Two match at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Sensational Selangor winger Faisal Halim was delighted after making his debut while helping the Red Giants to their maiden victory in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (AFC) Two campaign.
In the second action of Group H at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium, Selangor beat Dynamic Herb Cebu FC from the Philippines 1-0 and Faisal was included as a substitute in the 62nd minute.
It was Selangor’s first home match on the Asian stage in eight years.
The narrow victory allowed Nidzam Jamil’s squad to claim their first three points in Group H, following a 1-1 draw against Thailand’s Muangthong United in their opening match in Bangkok last month.
Selangor, who last played on the Asian stage in 2016, made an aggressive start, opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Venezuelan midfielder Yohandry Orozco converted a cross from Ronnie Allan Fernandez, beating Cebu goalkeeper Florencio Badelic Jr.
Faisal said in that match, he got the longest match minutes since returning to action in August after an acid attack incident in May that almost destroyed his career.
“We got three points for the team at home in this competition, it was not an easy game. Anyway I got the longest game minutes, this is the first game I got long minutes.
“Now almost five months (since the acid attack), I will continue to progress step by step to get the (best) performance.
“For me (current performance) is not enough yet, it is not yet time for me to be satisfied. I’m still at the stage to find my performance again,” he said
The 26-year-old 2023 Asian Cup best goal scorer admitted that he was satisfied to be able to make an appearance on the Asian championship stage after missing the opportunity with his former club Terengganu last season after moving to Selangor.
“We worked hard to come to Asia, and that dream came true to be with Selangor and to experience (the Asian competition). But there are still many matches, we have to fix what is lacking and I have to work hard,” he said.
Faisal feels that the competition in Asian meet can speed up the process for him to return to achieve his best performance.
“High intensity, great competition, not an easy match, I think it’s good for me actually. We are playing at a high level, I am looking for rhythm and minutes of the game and will progress step by step,” he said.
After two games, Selangor are now in second position with four points, two points behind the leader Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from South Korea while Thailand’s Muangthong United is third (one point) and Dynamic Herb Cebu is at the bottom with no points.
Next, the squad coached by Nidzam Jamil will face Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the third match of the group at MBPJ Stadium on Oct 23. — Bernama
