MSSM 2016 Round-up: Selangor the Big Winners on Home Soil

24 Ogos, 2016

The 2016 MSSM Football Championships, having showcased some of the nation’s finest young talents and pitted the best teams from each state against each other, came to an end last Thursday (18th August) evening at the Stadium UiTM in Shah Alam, with host state Selangor capping off the tournament on a high note.

The final day of the 6-day tournament saw the finals as well as bronze medal matches of all 3 categories played at different locations. At the Padang B TNB Kapar, the home side Selangor beat Sabah 3-1 in the U-12 bronze medal match, whereas Perlis edged Johor in the U-12 final at the Padang A TNB Kapar to clinch the title.

Meanwhile, there was more joy for Selangor again as the home team won the bronze medal in the U-18 category as well, running riot at the MBSA to whip Kelantan 4-0. Concurrently, the U-18 final also took place at the SMK USJ 23 Mini Stadium, which saw Penang and Terengganu vie for the gold medal. The east coast state enjoyed a relatively straightforward route to the final, whereas their opponents had to come through both their quarter and semi-final ties via the dreaded penalty shootout en route to reaching the final.


After normal time ended goalless, the match went to extra time, wherein Terengganu took the lead in the 1st period. Penang, however, refused to buckle, levelling matters with a sublime free kick goal in the 2nd period, before scoring a late goal to claim the U-18 trophy in dramatic fashion.

Earlier in the day, Melaka had also sunken Pahang 3-1 to win the U-15 category bronze medal. It was now down to the curtain closer – the U-15 gold medal match, held at the Stadium UiTM in Shah Alam. This category would bring the greatest joy to the home state, as Selangor were contesting the gold medal against Sabah, in a repeat of the U-12 bronze medal match earlier on the day. The home team certainly did not disappoint, steadying the boat after a shaky and (perhaps fortunately for them) goalless first half to settle into the match in the 2nd half and eventually win it by a single goal.

The hosts got over their nervy showing in the 1st half superbly, settling quickly into the 2nd half to take the lead. From then on, there was no doubt who’d win it as Selangor blitzed the Sabah goal. The home side’s ability to maintain possession, regain possession quickly, along with slick passing, stifled their opponents. Selangor were, however, at their deadliest on the counter. Combining their accurate passing and quick regaining of the ball with the pace of their wingers, their East Malaysian opponent’s defence were cut open time and time again, and were fortunate on multiple occasions not to have gone even further behind.


The victory sealed the gold medal for Selangor, their 3rd of the tournament. The hosts put in a very strong showing in all 3 categories of the tournament, winning 3 medals (1 gold, 2 bronze) – the maximum possible for any individual state. The feat was unmatched and unrivalled, as no other state managed to claim more than 1 medal. And for that, they were crowned overall champions of the 2016 MSSM Football Championships. All in all, it was a befitting reward for Selangor for putting in a truly excellent showing in this year’s MSSM Football Championships on home soil.

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Source - Tan Beng Jin, Planet Bola.