KUALA LUMPUR: Kedah have the chance to avenge last year's Malaysia Cup final defeat to Selangor after both teams came through their semi-final ties victorious on Saturday.
Defending champions Selangor advanced in style by beating Kuala Terengganu T-Team 3-0 away for a 5-1 aggregate victory, while Kedah ground out a 0-0 draw with Police in Malacca after winning the first leg 2-1 in Alor Star.
Selangor, who defeated Kedah 2-0 in the 2015 final, were too good for T-Team, who appeared to be overawed by the occasion of the club's biggest match in their 10-year history.
T-Team were shocked by a second-minute strike by R. Gopinathan and when Ugo Ukah pounced on 20 minutes later to make it 2-0 after the hosts failed to clear a cross into the box – and the writing was on the wall.
Selangor sealed the win in stoppage-time through Indonesian winger Andik Vermansyah and now have the chance to win the Malaysia Cup for a 34th time at their home ground, the Shah Alam Stadium, on Oct 30.
Awaiting them are Kedah, who squandered several chances at the Hang Jebat Stadium, but to coach Tan Cheng Hoe's relief, were not made to pay by Police.
Kedah twice hit the crossbar through Thiago Augusto Fernandes and Shane Smeltz in the first half, while Police goalkeeper Hamdan Sairi came to his side's rescue several times.
Baddrol Bakhtiar, with a free-kick which Hamdan pushed away, and then with a header which just cleared the bar, also came close to breaking the deadlock for Kedah.
Hamdan was a surprise selection by Police coach Fauzi Pilus ahead of regular goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli, but he repaid the faith placed in him with a good performance.
Christopher Keli, however, will be kicking himself for blowing Police's best chance after blazing over from close range with the goal at his mercy, mindful that a 1-0 win would have sent Police through to the final.