Chrigor Moraes brace sends Selangor FC into Shopee Cup final
Selangor forward Chrigor Moraes struck a first-half penalty and a late clincher as Selangor FC defeated Nam Định 2-0 in the second leg on May 13, 2026, advancing 4-1 on aggregate into the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup final. The Brazilian’s brace, his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament, secured Selangor a two-legged final on May 20 and May 27 against either Buriram United or Johor Darul Ta’zim. Selangor’s disciplined attack and a decisive VAR-reviewed penalty proved the difference at Thiên Trường Stadium.
Chrigor Moraes delivers decisive brace
Chrigor Moraes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 40th minute after a VAR review awarded Selangor a spot kick for a foul during a corner. He then sealed the tie in stoppage time, converting a low finish after latching onto a long pass from Zikri Khalili to make certain of Selangor’s progression.
Moraes has now become Selangor’s focal point in the Shopee Cup, with five goals across the campaign that include two in the semi-final first leg last week. The forward praised his teammates and the supporters after the match, stressing the squad’s preparation and workload in training as key to reaching the final.
Selangor advance 4-1 on aggregate to Shopee Cup final
Selangor’s 2-0 victory completed a 4-1 aggregate win,booking the club’s place in the two-legged final scheduled for May 20 and May 27, 2026. The Malaysian side will await the winner of the other semi-final, where defending champions Buriram United and domestic powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim dispute the remaining final berth.
The result marks Selangor’s first appearance in the Shopee Cup final since the competition’s revival, and it arrives amid a busy fixture run for the Red Giants. Their campaign has blended domestic commitments with continental ambition, and this progression underlines the depth and form the squad has built this season.
VAR decision and key refereeing moment shifted momentum
The match’s pivotal moment arrived shortly before half-time when referee Takasaki Koji, following a VAR check, awarded a penalty for a foul on Mohammad Majed Jamil Abualnadi. Mitchell Dijks was penalized for the foul, and Moraes sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to put Selangor ahead before the interval.
That VAR intervention not only changed the scoreboard but also altered the match’s tactical contours, forcing Nam Định to commit more players forward in search of a response. The use of video review was decisive in determining the semi-final’s narrative and ultimately favored Selangor’s physical and positional discipline.
Nam Định created chances but could not convert
Nam Định, who had trailed by a goal from the first leg, made three starting changes and threatened at times, producing several notable openings in the first half. Nguyễn Xuân Son, the tournament’s top scorer entering the match with seven goals, had a clear opportunity from a Percy Tau cross but failed to connect cleanly, denying the hosts an equalizer.
After the break Nam Định introduced attacking substitutes that briefly lifted the tempo and created opportunities, including a disallowed Percy Tau finish chalked off for offside after VAR review. Despite late surges and a passionate home crowd in excess of 16,000, Nam Định could not find the finishing touch to overturn the deficit.
Tactical approach and standout contributions from Selangor
Selangor manager Kim Pan-gon set an assertive, offensive game plan that encouraged his side to press and attack at every available moment. The team’s build-up often featured captain Faisal Halim and Hugo Boumos, whose early involvement created openings and allowed Chrigor to find advanced positions inside Nam Định’s penalty area.
Goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel made several important saves, and the defensive unit limited high-quality chances from the hosts after the penalty. Zikri Khalili’s late long ball, which set up the platform for Moraes’s second goal, highlighted the effective transitions that defined Selangor’s approach and allowed them to exploit spaces behind a Nam Định side increasingly committed to attack.
Substitutes influenced the tempo but could not alter outcome
Nam Định’s bench impact was evident when Lam Ti Phong injected pace and intent upon entering the match, producing a flurry of promising moments early in the second half. Trần Văn Kiên also tested Sikh Izhan with a left-foot attempt that the Selangor goalkeeper managed to parry and control, preventing a home comeback.
Selangor’s ability to manage game phases with timely substitutions and composure under pressure proved decisive in the closing stages. The Red Giants maintained structure while inviting phases of Nam Định pressure, then countered effectively to finish the tie when the opportunity presented itself.
Looking ahead to the two-legged Shopee Cup final
Selangor now turn their attention to the two-legged final on May 20 and May 27, aiming to lift the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup for the first time in the club’s Shopee Cup debut. The first leg will take place at MBPJ, where Selangor have publicly called for a full stadium as they prepare to host what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
Moraes underscored the squad’s readiness and hunger for the trophy, calling for fan support and reflecting on the collective effort that produced the semi-final victory. The final will test Selangor’s depth and resilience, particularly with the prospect of facing either a defending champion or a domestic rival in the opposition.
Selangor’s qualification for the final came on the evening of May 13, 2026, and represents a significant milestone in the club’s continental ambitions as they seek to convert strong domestic form into regional silverware. The Red Giants will now refine preparations, balancing recovery, tactical sessions and scouting of their potential final opponents while anticipating fervent home support for the first leg at MBPJ.
